How Gambling Impacts Communities

A casino is not like any other business. There would be little concern over how much gambling we have in our state or community if it were not for the social problems and costs that gambling creates. Addiction, bankruptcy, crime, corruption, child abuse and neglect, divorce, domestic violence, and suicide are some of the costs associated with problem and pathological gambling.
Bankruptcy increases in communities with casinos. According to a SMR Research Corporation study, gambling behavior may cause up to 14.2% of annual bankruptcy in the United States. The seven counties in Illinois had a 10% higher filing rate than the 95 non-casino counties in Illinois.
For every dollar of revenue that gambling interests indicate is being contributed in taxes, it costs taxpayers $3 in social welfare, criminal justice, and regulatory costs, according to Professor John Kindt from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
Professor Earl Grinols estimates that three-eights to one half of casino revenue will come from problem and pathological gambling.
Slot machines account for more than 87% of the revenue at Illinois casinos, with 67% of the money lost at slot machines that are played for a quarter or less-penny, 2 cent, 3 cent, nickel, dime, and quarter.
The presence of a gambling facility within 50 miles roughly doubles the prevalence of problem and pathological gamblers, according to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission.
Local people, not tourists, gamble at Illinois casinos. A Better Government Association study found that 85% of the people gambling at the riverboats in Illinois were state residents.
Approximately 80% of the money gambled at the land-based casino in New Orleans comes from local residents and people who have come to help with the rescue efforts after Katrina.
Families have been devastated and careers have been ruined by people who started gambling at casinos near their homes.
Crime increases as gamblers lose money and resort to embezzlement, theft, and fraud.