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Impact of Problem Gambling
Positive Effects
- Economic benefits - growth in tourism-related industries
- Increase in jobs
- Increase in tax revenue for local & state government
Source: "Gambling Impact & Behavior Study" by the National Opinion Research Center at University of Chicago |
Negative Effects
- Increase in youth crime (some link this with parental neglect)
- Increased white collar crimes (embezzlement, credit card fraud, bad checks)
- Increased domestic violence
- Increased "family stress" (divorce, family problems)
- Increased suicides (as a group, gamblers have the highest rate of suicide)
- Increased substance abuse (co-occurrence common, evidence also shows an icnrease of second hand smoke)
- Increased rates of mental illness
Source: "Gambling Impact & Behavior Study" by the National Opinion Research Center at University of Chicago
Long-Term Effects of Casinos
- Displacement of existening retail operations in urban areas (local businesses lose out)
- Longitudinal findings (4-6 years fter casinos open)
- Increase in rape, murder, and other violent crimes
- Increase in burglary, theft, and other property crimes
Source: Attorney General's Report "Gambling in the Golden State" |
