Of necessity, we need an open and public discussion of the problems and costs associated with expanded predatory gambling in the Bay State that goes beyond an immediate solution to this year's budget woes.
.The following raises other issues we need to consider --
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Gambling and Crime
By Tom Larkin
“It isn’t that they can’t see the solution. It is that they cannot see the problem”
G. K. Chesterton
Phillip Markoff, the accused Craigslist murderer, as well as former State Senator Diane Wilkerson, were known to gamble frequently at Foxwoods Resort. Committing crimes to acquire gambling money is one characteristic of problem gamblers.
The Massachusetts FY-2010 state budget may be $550 million dollars short. Expanded gambling proposals are widely supported by political leaders, newspaper editors, labor unions and the general public.
Projected benefits include increased economic activity, jobs, licensing fees, annual casino taxes and recapturing about $900,000 lost out of state. What’s not to like?
One projected cost is increased crime. Increases in poverty, recidivism, bankruptcy, fraud, suicides, child neglect, child abuse, job inefficiency, youth gambling and addictions of all kinds are other costs. In one independent study, costs outweighed benefits by 3 to 1. (Grinols-2004) No independent cost-benefit analysis has been presented by proponents.
Measuring social costs is complicated. While 2/3rds of active gamblers are engaged in harmless entertainment, they do not lose much. Most gambling losses (about 80%) come from the 20% of the gamblers who are poor, less educated, minorities and people with a wide range of mental health and addiction problems. The evidence is controversial, but credible. Maryland Attorney General Joseph Curran stated, “There is no question, where gambling is introduced, there is an increase in crime.”
Comparing data from casino states with non-casino states, from 1977 to 1996, Grinols, Mustard and Hunt-Dilley (2002) concluded, by the 5th year, casino states had greater increases in rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft and that from 3% to 30% could be attributed to casinos.
The National Gambling Impact Study Commission (1999) estimated about 1 out of 3 active gamblers have some level of mild, moderate to severe gambling problem. The cost of problem gamblers to society has been estimated to be from $10,000 to $50,000 a year. The number of problem gamblers increases significantly within a 50 mile radius of a new casino.
There are significantly more problem gamblers arrested (30%) compared to arrests among non-gamblers (7%). About 40% of the incarcerated (and formerly incarcerated) are estimated to have gambling problems. The annual number of police calls jumped over 400% within 5 years after the opening of the Foxwoods Resort Casino. After 4 years, Atlantic City’s major crimes tripled.
Recidivism is related to relapse. Alcohol and other drugs are estimated to be involved in 60% to 70% of arrests. In a 15 state 2002 study by the US Justice Department, over 2/3rds of released prisoners were re-arrested within 3 years. The recidivism rate drops to about 1 out of 3 among those who abstain. About 50% of problem gamblers also have alcohol problems. About 30% of people with alcohol and drug problems also have some level of gambling problem. The Pew Center recently reported that the number of people on probation, incarcerated and on parole in the US had tripled since 1982 to 7.3 million, 1 in every 32 citizens…. Advocating for programs to reduce recidivism while simultaneously advocating for expanding legalized gambling is incongruous.
The very complexity of the relationship between gambling and crime (and other social costs) demands an open, vigorous debate before legalized gambling is expanded in Massachusetts. That debate has not taken place yet. Why?
(Tom Larkin is a psychologist and facilitator for SMART Recovery, a self help program available at the Billerica House of Corrections, MCI Concord, MCI Shirley and in the community.)
April 25, 2009
3 comments:
I'd like to see Tom & Hal debate. Tom would chomp Hal to bits.
Oh, Great Carnivorous Predator, most could chomp Hal to bits armed with the facts.
Hal is merely an inconsequential local supporter who has never presented the impartial facts, but keeps suggesting additional reasons for supporting the Mega Kerzner/Wolman Monster.
When casino/predatory gambling supporters can only win by silencing the opposition, that should tell the wise observer that they're hiding something.
They're hiding the facts.
They're hiding the costs of the impacts, which include crime, but also the social costs of gambling addiction.
The recent sentencing of the Rapist and Serial Liar, Glenn Marshall should define the corruption inherent in the process.
In the comments on the Bumpkin's blog, Hal attempted to defend a glowing editorial he wrote about the Rapist/Con Man/Serial Liar/Valor Thief.
The only reason investors seek "Tribal Casinos" is because they don't have to pay taxes, obey local and state laws, behave like responsible businesses.
Afterall, look at the financial mess Kerzner and Wolman are in in the state of Rhode Island where they have to pay taxes and abide by the laws.
Gambling and crime? Maybe then half the USELESS Middleboro cops would HAVE to START working for our tax dollars. Then again, wouldn't the tribe have their own security and way and means of handling crimes on THEIR SACRED LAND? STILL A JOKE. Layoff Cops/Save the COA and Library. Those are two informative, helpful resources to the taxpayers. BUT, arent' they PROTECTED TO have to meet a quota of cops for grants? Just another smooth move by Jack and Wayne to screw us.
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