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Health & Fitness

Slots Parlor in Tewksbury? – A Look at Crime

This post explores research findings on crime rates in and around casino towns:

Crime Increases:  A study by two renowned economists (Grinols and Mustard) [1] shows that after a “honeymoon period,” crime rates in casino towns increase dramatically 5–7 years after the casino opens.  Increased crime rates include:
    • Aggravated assaults increased by 114%
    • Robbery increased by 161%
    • Larceny increased by 53%
    • Murders increased by 22%
    • Burglary increased by 54%
    • Auto theft increased by 92%
    Neighboring Towns Crime Increases:  Violent and property crime rates in neighboring towns increased 30% five years after the casino opened and followed a similar patterns to the towns in which the casino is located. [3]

    Other Neighboring Town Impacts:  The City of Norwich (near Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun) copes with significant impacts as well.  City officials estimate casino-related costs to be anywhere from $1 million to $2.5 million a year.  They include: [2]
      • A 27% increase in motor vehicle accidents from 1991 to 2004
      • An increase in police overtime from $85,000 in 1991 to more than $280,000 in 2008
      • A 76% increase in calls for service from people needing the assistance of the police from 1992 to 2004

      1 http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=233792 (Grinols and Mustard download, p.14 Figure 6: Percentage increases calculated by dividing year one figures by year seven figures as reported by Grinols and Mustard).

      2 Casino, Crime and Community Cost (Grinols and Mustard p.15-16 Figure 6)http://www.maine.com/editions/2006-05-15/images/20060531000107C.pdf

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      3 Gambling in Connecticut: Analyzing the Economic and Social Impacts, Spectrum Gaming Group, 2009, (p. 124 average Foxwoods and Mohegan), (p.199), (p.13), (p.14), (p.210, p.215-218), (p.195 Figure 114) & (p.233

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