Venue and Community

Overview

Developments of new casinos are often touted to have a positive impact on the economy of their host community. While the evidence suggests that casinos can contribute to their host economies, they can have both a positive and negative effect.

Key Points

Researchers have found that casinos can positively impact local employment, wages in entertainment and hospitality sectors, regional economic growth, and property values. However, there are also negative social impacts that can be attributed to the spread of casino gambling. These social costs may include increased criminal activity, bankruptcy filings, divorce, and suicide attempts. However, research on these negative impacts is relatively new and the extent of these relationships is not yet known.

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Reference

Walker, D., Nower L., Choi, K. & Glynn, J. (2015). State of evidence: Societal and Economic Impact of Gambling