FACTS

Wondering if casinos bring crime to communities?

• 2003 - 80 acres of open dune and forested land in Florence, Oregon (population 7,500):
  
  • Total arrests: NONE
    
  • Medical assists: NONE
    
  • Drug incidents: NONE
    
  • Motor vehicle collisions: NONE
    
    
• 2005 - new tent casino on same property reported:
  
• Total arrests: 63
  ("majority being drug related and occurring at the casino in Florence")
  
• Medical assists: 67
  
• Drug incidents: 52
  
• Motor vehicle collisions: 21
  

Still wondering?

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• The Federal Reserve study found that access to legalized gambling is also an important determinant of bankruptcy filings. The farther a county is from a casino, the lower its personal-bankruptcy filing rate is likely to be. (7/25/07, Where Bankruptcies Stay High, Wall Street Journal) Also see: Facts-Bankruptcy
  
  
• The casinos "have changed things pretty dramatically anywhere within an hour's drive," said Chris Armentano , director of Problem Gaming Services, a division of the (Connecticut) state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. "It's not just the towns that are affected. It's the region." Take Norwich, Conn., for example. It is about 3 miles north of Mohegan Sun and 8 miles west of Foxwoods. It has no casino. But this city of 36,721 people has become home to thousands of casino workers. By last year, nearly one-third of students attending Norwich public schools had parents working at the casinos, and many speak little or no English.(7/22/07 - Towns feel effect of casinos)
  
  
• Casinos report record profits following Katrina hurricane - "It's a sad state for every federal taxpayer and for every insurance customer, because money that's supposed to rebuild an area is lining the pockets of a few greedy casino businessmen," Silvera told Family News in Focus. (7/16/07, Casinos report record profits following Katrina hurricane)

  Also see: Casinos Boom in Katrina’s Wake as Cash Pours In

  
  
• Casinos often ignore local laws which prohibit smoking in public places. According to a report by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, "Secondhand smoke is a dangerous, often unregulated, environmental pollutant that causes cancer and heart disease in adults and respiratory disease in children. Smoking bans eliminate these risks." "The conclusion is that ventilation technology cannot possibly achieve acceptable indoor air quality in the presence of smoking, leaving smoking bans as the only alternative."
  
  
• An estimated 60,000 people in Oregon are problem gamblers, Marotta says. ... addictive gambling became a concern after the state lottery began offering video poker in 1992. Last year, the lottery added slot games. Their effect on the number of problem gamblers has not yet been measured. Oregon spends more per capita on gambling treatment, prevention and education than any other state. (Oregon to offer inpatient treatment, 7/23/06)
  
  
• The estimated annual costs of problem gambling to Florence with a casino: $996,577 per year. (Financial Costs of Problem Gambling for Oregon, Jeffrey J. Marotta, Ph.D., Oregon Problem Gambling Services Manager - report to Lane County Commissioners 8/12/04)

  
  
• Alberta medical investigator Dennis Caufield says gambling-related suicides increased after addictive VLTs were installed in 1992. "Absolutely, without a doubt," he said in an interview. "It's a frightening thing to me. He blames the addictive devices for a string of suicides in the area. "What bothers me is human life's worth nothing. It's not even worth a dollar to the government." (Suicide linked to gambling, 2/23/03, C-News)
  
  
• The astounding dollar amount of the cost to society doesn't begin to communicate the level of destruction of lives if a casino is allowed to remain in Florence. The 360 people that will become compulsive gamblers because of the proximity of a casino - their children - their spouses - these are our neighbors, our friends, ourselves. Are these lives worth the convenience of a cheap buffet or a little Saturday night “entertainment”? (S. Dewberry, President, People Against a Casino Town)
  
  
• Even using conservative low numbers, the resulting cost to society of a new casino in Florence would be $6.3 million per year. (Taxes lost from casino in Florence, Oregon)
  
  
• Between 1.5% and 6.5% of the adult population are compulsive gamblers. (Goodman, The Luck Business, 42)
  
  
• The number of clients entering treatment who have suicidal ideation is 50%, making this the most startling information that has been learned: the severe despondency of the gambling client before he/she enters treatment. This despair appears to be attributed to the disintegration of family functioning, possible legal consequences, and shame. The average gambling client is/has been employed, is well educated, and is in the middle class.” (Michael Bean, Director, Addiction Counseling and Education Services, Inc., letter to Lane County Health and Human Services re: potential impact of casino development in Springfield, Oregon, 12/12/95)
  
  
• According to the National Gambling Impact Study Report, gambling addiction percentages double when a casino comes within 50 miles of its location. (The National Gambling Impact Study Commission, Final Report, June 1999.)
  
  
• Compulsive gamblers account for more than half of casino income. (Earl Grinols, Statement to the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on the Judiciary, September 16, 1993)
  
  
• "As access to money becomes more limited, gamblers often resort to crime in order to pay debts, appease bookies, maintain appearances, and garner more money to gamble.” (National Gambling Impact Study Commission, Final Report, June 1999)
  
  
• 20% of compulsive gamblers attempt suicide. (National Council on Problem Gambling, Inc., "The Need for a National Policy on Problem and Pathological Gambling in America," November 1, 1993, 7)
  
  
• Conservative estimates indicate that at least 360 more people in the Florence area would become compulsive gamblers if there were a casino in Florence. (PACT calculations based on Florence area population of 18,000 people)
  

• Kathy Bassett, 49, a registered nurse from Topeka, Kan., didn’t blink when Harrah’s opened a casino 15 miles from her front door. She had zero interest in gambling. Nor did she worry about its social ills. That was before 2003, a nightmarish year that Bassett said opened her eyes wide to the problems associated with addictive gambling. In sequential order: * Her son, a casino pit boss, was arrested for stealing to support his gambling habit. * Her mother, retired and in her 70s, filed for bankruptcy after losing her life savings to the slot machines. * Her 37-year-old brother, David, in despair and shame over his inability to quit gambling, put a shotgun barrel to his mouth, pulled the trigger and ended his life. “I just got so angry,” said Bassett. “This is an industry worth hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars, and ... it means nothing to them” — meaning government, Indian tribes and gambling companies that profit from legal gambling. (5/30/06 Feds don't ante up)
  
  
• Mayor Richard Lucero said gaming is taking its toll on the community. The city spends $500,000 a year responding to emergencies at Santa Clara's Big Rock Casino because it is located within city limits. (City officials see gambling's dark side 1/7/05)
  
  
• Dead Broke: How gamblers are killing themselves, bankrupting their families and costing Minnesota millions. In less than a decade, legalized gambling in Minnesota has created a broad new class of addicts, victims and criminals whose activities are devastating families and costing taxpayers and businesses millions of dollars. Many are people who had never previously broken the law, but who turned to robbery, forgery and embezzlement to support their habits. Thousands have ruined themselves financially, and a handful have killed themselves. Thousands more will live for years on the edge of bankruptcy, sometimes working two or three jobs to pay off high-interest credit-card debt. (Dead Broke, 1995, Minnesota Star Tribune - Special Project)

What has happened since Foxwoods casino came to town?
Town of North Stonington, Connecticut (population 4,991)
(Casino Impact on the Town of North Stonington, CT)

• "Since the casino came to town the police force has grown from one resident state trooper and several part time constables to its current size of three (3) state troopers, and additional overtime funds equal to another state trooper. This staffing is a best only meeting the minimum needs of the community considering impacts from the casino." "The casino impact is estimated at the cost of one (1) trooper $61,000.00 plus seventy-five (75%) percent of the overtime for the three (3) troopers of $40,950.00 equaling $101,950.00" (Casino Impact on the Town of North Stonington, CT)
  
  
  • Now have the highest DUI / DWI rate in the State of CT
  • Traffic and litter has increased 3 fold
  • Went from one (1) resident state trooper to three (3) Troopers now
  • Closed two (2) Houses of Prostitution
  • Inception of a Pornography Super Store and Smoke Shop
  • This area has the highest Gamblers Anonymous Rate in the Sate of CT
  • Ambulance Association was all Volunteers and now it is now fully paid
  • Embezzlement rates due to gambling have increased 2 to 3 times
  • Property Taxes have decrease on routes to the casino
  • Now vacant commercial property on Rte 2 (main route to the casino)
    

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Nevada Livability Statistics

• The gambling moguls, who fully understand the havoc created by their industry, continue to boast of Las Vegas as a wonderland of close family life, of good jobs, wonderful tourism, excitement and a great life for its residents. Consider these documented facts about Nevada. (Robert T. Bobilin, Ph.D., Chairperson, Research & Information Committee 3/99, Hawaii Coalition Against Legalized Gambling)

Rank in United States		Sources:
1	Suicides	U.S. Bureau of Census, 1997
1	Divorce	U.S. Bureau of Census, 1997
1	High School Dropouts	U.S. Bureau of Census, 1997
1	Women Killed by Men	Sue Glick, "Number of Females Murdered by Males in Single Victim Offender Homicides and Rates by States, 1996, ranked by Rate," Violence Policy Center, Washington D.C., Sept. 1998
1	Gambling Addictions	Rob Bhatt, "Assigning Responsibility for Gambling," Las Vegas Business Press, June 22, 1998
3	Bankruptcies	Mana Zarinejad, Public Affairs Coordinator, American Bankruptcy Institute, cited by Dr. James Dobson, Family News, Focus on the Family, January 1999
4	Rape	U.S. Bureau of Census, 1997
4	Alcohol Related Deaths	"County Alcohol Problem Indicators 1986-1990" U.S. Alcohol Epidemiological Data Reference Manual, Volume 3, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, July 1994
5	Crime	U.S. Bureau of Census, 1997
6	Prisoners Locked Up	Darrell K. Gillard and Allen J. Beck, "Prisoners in 1997", Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin, August 1998
50	Voter Participation	U.S. Bureau of Census, 1997

• Estimated Social Costs of Gambling in Florence - Oregon Dept. Health
  
• Total Cost of Gambling Addiction
  
• Tribal Casino Impact Information
• USPACT