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Study concludes
casinos bring crime
“It is virtually inescapable that there will be an impact on crime from introducing gambling”, says Richard Aborn, of the firm of Constantine & Aborn Advisory Services in New York City "The story is unfortunately the same, over and over again, which is, when gambling is permitted, we do see increases in crime.” The increase, the study finds, is tied specifically to gambling and not to increased tourism in general. Commissioned study concludes casinos bring crime May 19, 2005 Hudson Valley News A professional consultant who looked at the experience of several areas surrounding existing casinos has come to conclusion: there would be an increase in crime if casinos come to Sullivan County. The study was commissioned by Advocacy Inc. (@dvocacy Inc.) a public affairs consulting firm, which was retained by a local anti-casino group called “Don’t Gamble Our Future”. “It is virtually inescapable that there will be an impact on crime from introducing gambling”, says Richard Aborn, of the firm of Constantine & Aborn Advisory Services in New York City "The story is unfortunately the same, over and over again, which is, when gambling is permitted, we do see increases in crime.” Aborn says he based that conclusion on looking at several areas noted for casinos, including Atlantic City and the area around the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut. In Atlantic City, the study notes crime rates rose 258 percent in the ten years after casinos arrived. Larceny is up 481 percent. The increase, the study finds, is tied specifically to gambling and not to increased tourism in general. That is based on comparing gambling areas with non-gambling tourist venues such as Mall of America in Minnesota and Disney World. Aborn says they found a tendency among pathological gamblers to spend up to a year exhausting personal resources before turning to crime to finance their addiction. Another corollary, noted by Aborn … political corruption. He says there are many documented cases of politicians, including high-level lawmakers in other states, taking bribes. “Decide what it is going to receive for that in exchange for a predictable rise in victims of crime, including violent crime, and all the related criminal justice costs.” Among the recipients of the report are Sullivan County District Attorney Stephen Lungen and Sheriff Daniel Hogue, both on record predicting a dramatic increase in crime and a serious taxing of existing law enforcement resources if casinos come to Sullivan. Aborn says the study that led to the report specifically did not look at any demographic factors in Sullivan County, or the fact that a racino, with video slot machines, opened at Monticello Raceway seven months ago. http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/Gambling_study-19May05.htm |
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