Casino Gambling Crime Worries Proving Unfounded

But observation of the results of casino gambling being installed in towns and cities reveals that worries of increased crime have proved needless.

When new gambling laws and the introduction of casinos to an area are considered, the issue of social costs always becomes a prime argument against gaming. But observation of the results of casino gambling being installed in towns and cities reveals that worries of increased crime have proved needless.

Gambling opponents tied to religious and socially conservative groups have long decried the negative effects of casinos, especially predicting an increase in violent crime and prostitution.But the facts are that towns that have accepted expanded gaming have suffered no such deleterious effects.

A recent article in the Shreveport Times finds that social conditions in Shreveport and neighboring Bossier City have actually improved significantly since riverboat gambling came to town in 1994. Unemployment, which had been among the nation's highest, has dropped to well below US average.

The cities have built streets and parks, funded schooling, and still have a gaming trust fund containing over $30 million to help area beautification and infrastructure repairs.

Most telling is the decline in crime statistically. Violent crimes are down by almost fifty percent in the fifteen years since gambling was started.

"There were fears, even from all of us, about the crime," Bossier City Police Chief Mike Halphen said. "But, so far, crime (in Bossier City) has actually dropped. We heard there would be prostitution, but we get more prostitution off of Craigs List than we do from the casinos."

In Florida, Representative Joe Gibbons testified that crime has gone down in his district since two racinos were created two years ago. But Orlando, the artificial , plastic family town so worshipped by radical religious groups, has a per capita violent crime rate five times that of Atlantic City.

Clearly, gaming opponents will be thrilled to know the nightmares they profess to having regarding the social cost of casinos and gambling are proving unfounded. Or perhaps, like dedicated gambling foe and Baylor professor Earl Grinois, they will say two years of lowered crime only occurs because it takes three years to spike... or four years... or five...