Type

Casinos hurt home values in host communities

, , ,

A new report from the National Association of Realtors shows how home values in western Massachusetts would be hurt by a casino in the area. Due to its addition of traffic noise and the general bother of an attraction that brings thousands of people in, a casino would have an “unambiguously negative” affect on home values in the areas, sapping as much as $3300 in value from the average homeowner. Below is a copy of the study itself, as well as an article summarizing its findings.

2013 Realtor study NAR- Casino-Research

2013 Realtors- Western Massachusetts casino would hurt home values in host community

LesCasinos hurt home values in host communities
read more

Political influence of gambling interests in Illinois grows due to lack of strong regulation

, , , ,

This study by the Common Cause details the growing influence of gambling interests in Illinois. Illinois is one of the few states without a limit on campaign contributions, so deep-pocketed lobbyists and special-interest groups, especially the gambling industry, can use their exorbitant amounts of money to exert influence over Illinois legislators.

Payout–Gambling Study by Common Cause Illinois

LesPolitical influence of gambling interests in Illinois grows due to lack of strong regulation
read more

Pennsylvania’s failure to limit campaign contributions allows gambling interests to buy their way to legislative victory

, ,

This study by the Common Cause shows the growing influence of money in Pennsylvania politics, especially from gambling interests, due to the state’s lack of limits on campaign contributions. Gambling interests with essentially limitless sums of money can thus buy their way to influence and power over Pennsylvania lawmakers.

Payout in PA

LesPennsylvania’s failure to limit campaign contributions allows gambling interests to buy their way to legislative victory
read more

Poulos v. Caesars World: A Battle over Corrupt Business Practices

, , , ,

This article details the court case Poulos v. Caesars World, where Caesars World, a casino corporation, was sued for “a course of fraudulent and misleading acts and omissions intended to induce people to play their video poker and electronic slot machines based on a false belief concerning how those machines actually operate, as well as the extent to which there is actually an opportunity to win on any given play”. This legal battle of the business practices of Caesars World casinos shows the extent to which players can be swindled into losing large sums of money on games that are deigned for them to lose.

Poulos v. Caesars World, Inc.

LesPoulos v. Caesars World: A Battle over Corrupt Business Practices
read more

Many Asian-Americans are riding the casino bus everyday just to exist

, ,

This article from The Morning Call details a growing phenomenon in the Asian-American community in urban New York. Many of these people are very poor, or even homeless, desperate for a way to make a living. Casinos will often provide $45 in free-play cards to these citizens, as a way of getting them into the door and luring them into playing. These people then take a bus for several hours to a casino, and sell these cards to gamblers at the casino, so they can have cash to support themselves.

2014 Asians at Sands Bethlehem casino ride bus to live

 

LesMany Asian-Americans are riding the casino bus everyday just to exist
read more

Ottawa Board of Health voices opposition against casinos

, ,

The head of the Ottawa Board of Health has come out against the addition of a new casino in the city, instead advocating for increased funds to help aid and prevent gambling addiction, according to this article by CBC News. Instead of adding casinos and increasing the number of gambling addicts, he recommends helping the existing 13,000 problem gamblers already in the city, by increasing funds to local gambling treatment centers and by taking some of the money from the Ottawa Lottery and Gaming Corporation and diverting it to gambling prevention and outreach programs.

2013 Ottawa Public Health against new casino

LesOttawa Board of Health voices opposition against casinos
read more

Report examines how gambling research is funded

, , , , ,

This extensive report by The Goldsmiths Report details the ways in which gambling research is conducted  and funded and identifies a need for more unbiased reporting. It provides an interesting look into gambling research and how it can be tainted by the influence of money or lawmakers who are supported by the gambling industry, and is a great read for those interested in how certain influences affect gambling research.

2014 Fair Game – Funding Gambling Research

LesReport examines how gambling research is funded
read more

More and more seniors struggle with gambling addiction

, ,

Seniors are among the fastest-growing groups of problem gamblers in America. Being unable to make up their losses after retirement, senior citizens often plunge themselves farther and farther into debt, gambling away their retirement savings for which they worked their whole lives. This report from AlterNet details the effects of problem gambling on seniors.

2014 Senior Gambling Addiction Rates Are Soaring in America

LesMore and more seniors struggle with gambling addiction
read more

Report shows staggering costs of problem gambling

, , , , , , ,

This report, by The Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission, estimates the cost of problem gambling to be as high as $2.8 billion in Victoria, Australia. Excess gambling by problem gamblers accounts for up to $1.4 billion of this, with the rest coming from the intangible costs for problem gamblers’ mental health and familial stability. This article by The Age summarizes the report’s findings.

2013 Cost of problem gambling could be as high as $2.8b- report

LesReport shows staggering costs of problem gambling
read more

Tax break for Atlantic City casinos means more struggles for the city

, , ,

According to this article by NorthJersey.com, Atlantic City may have to take on an additional tax burden after casinos in the city won a large property tax reduction in court. The reduction is due to declining property values of casinos because of the casino industry’s overall downward spiral in recent years. The city will now have to cope with the loss of serious tax revenue in addition to its long-term financial struggles.

2013 Atlantic City and its casino industry are still struggling – and now the tax burdens on the casinos are shrinking

LesTax break for Atlantic City casinos means more struggles for the city
read more