In gambling reports from cities and towns across the country that have
legalized casinos, no improvements in the social or economic status of
the community have been reported, either by federal, state or municipality
funded studies. (see Sources)
"Atlantic City's crime rate has exceeded the state [New Jersey] rate
ever since casinos were authorized in 1978. Between 1978 and 1981, the
crime rate tripled. In just three years following the opening of its first
casino, Atlantic City went from 50th in the nation in per capita crime
to first."1
George G. Payne, Chief of Police in Gulfport, Mississippi, released a report comparing the first six months of 1993 (when casinos were just coming on line) with the first six months in 1994. Results are listed below.
1. During the first six months of 1993, there were only 22 robberies
in Gulfport; during the first six months of 1994 there were 70.
This represents a 218% increase.
2. The number of rapes tripled.
3. Vehicle theft was up 166%, from 53 stolen cars during the
first half of 1993 compared to 141 this year.
4. Arson cases increased 150%
5. Burglaries doubled.
6. Assaults are up 66%
7. Vehicular accidents are up 62%
8. In total, excluding vehicular accidents,
there were 1,597 crimes committed in the first
six months of 1993, compared to 3,248 in the
first six months of this year. This represents
a total increase in crime of just over 100%"3
Assaults triple in the area around casinos. The crime rate
increased dramatically in Atlantic City after the opening of casinos.
Tourists are warned not to wander further than 2 blocks from the casinos
due to the danger of assaults, armed robbery, rape.
Other crimes involve a full range of money fraud, banking fraud,
white collar crime as well as bad checks, forgery, fraud, embezzlement
from job, theft, bank robbery,selling drugs, street crime, prostitution,
etc..
Valerie C. Lorenz, Ph.D., CCMHC, CPC Executive
Director Compulsive Gambling Center, lnc.
Insurance Fraud:
"...one study of Gamblers Anonymous members
found that 47% had engaged in insurance related fraud or thefts where insurance
companies had to pay the victims. The average amount of the fraud involved
was calculated at $65,000."2
Deadwood (South Dakota) is a prime example of what happened to
a small self-sufficient community after the opening of casinos in its town.
The town was lured by the promise of a much larger tax base, a larger tourist
industry, and all the other lures that an industry will use to force the
passing of ordinances to allow the business to locate in a community that
otherwise would not allow it.
"Shortly after the advent of legalized casino gambling [Nov. 1989], the Deadwood [South Dakota] casino economy lurched forward. The state attorney's office in Deadwood indicated that within approximately two years:
1. Child abuse cases had increased 42% to 43%
(from 350 to 500 cases);
2. Police costs had increased 80% to 100% with
a virtual doubling of the number of police
officers;
3. Although national statistics had increased
only slightly, crime in the Deadwood area had
increased overall by 10% (although prior to
1989 the crime rate had been declining) with a
50% increase in felonies. Furthermore, there
were 614 Class One misdemeanors or felonies in
1988, and 1,070 in 1992, a 75% increase in four
years;
4. Domestic violence and assaults had risen
80%; and
5. Burglaries and writing of bad checks had
increased..."4
One of the saddest impacts of gambling and casinos in a community are the costs in people. The property and money loss are nothing compared to what people have to do to obtain the money to support their habits. And the saddest of these is when teen age girls have to turn to prostitution to get the money they need. It becomes epidemic as casinos and gambling have always lured girls and women into prostitution.
ěTeenage girls are forced into prostitution when they can't pay their
gambling debt to the loan shark. 1976 Atlantic City had no prostitution
problem - today it is a public health problem.î
U.S. News & World Report, March 14, 1994