Florida Legislators Unfazed By Casino Gambling Foe

The state House committee, which is considering legalizing full casino gambling, listened dubiously to unverified claims of social costs by Baylor economic professor Earl Grinois.

Florida lawmakers, who are debating a broad expansion of legal state gambling, heard supposed expert testimony Friday about the social perils of increased gaming. The state House committee, which is considering legalizing full casino gambling,  listened dubiously to unverified claims of social costs by Baylor economic professor Earl Grinols.

Grinols says casino gambling causes crime to rise from five to eight percent in surrounding communities, with burglaries and murders leading the increase. He also says revenue gains by governments are offset by negative effects including divorces, bankruptcies, and suicides.

But the anti-gambling zealot did not have proof to back up his wild statements. Several of the legislators hearing his testimony questioned the validity of his claims.

Representative Joe Gibbons hails from Hallandale Beach, where two racinos were established over the last two years. ``And in those last two years, our crime rate has gone down,'' Gibbons responded to Grinols.

Grinols weakly countered by asserting crime numbers take three years from casino openings to start rocketing up.

The state Senate has already passed a bill allowing blackjack to be introduced at racinos, and craps and roulette to be added to games at Seminole casinos. The House now tries to examine the plan, which would bring Florida $1 billion in annual revenue.