Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Attitudes of Community Leaders in New Casino Jurisdictions Regarding Casino Gambling's Effects on Crime and Quality of Life

  • Published:
Journal of Gambling Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Interviews were conducted with 128 key individuals in seven communities that are new casino jurisdictions. The individuals interviewed are community leaders (mayors, members of the city council, leading members of the business community) or work in areas (banking, law enforcement, social services) which would provide insight into the positive and negative effects that casinos have on communities. A series of core questions were asked of all 128 respondents followed by additional questions designed to elicit specific information based on the individual's position. A content analysis was conducted comparing responses both within and between communities by leadership position. Findings indicate that a clear majority (59%) of those interviewed are in favor of the casino in the community, believe the casino enhances the quality of life in the community (65%), and believe that the casino has a positive effect on the economy (77%). Although a majority of the community leaders interviewed view the impact of casinos favorably, responses vary both by community and by position within the community. Finally, since ths group of community leaders was not selected randomly, it is possible that unintended interview bias shifted these results in a positive direction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Bureau of the Census (1993). 1990 Census of Population. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallup Poll (October, 1993). Cited in St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 10, 1993, p. 1E.

  • Kang, Y., Long, P., & Perdue, R. (1996). Resident attitudes toward legal gambling. Annals of Tourism Research, 23(1), 71–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long, P. (1996). Early impacts of limited stakes casino gambling on rural community life. Tourism Management, 17(5), 341–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pizam, A., & Pokela, J. (1985). The perceived impacts of casino gambling on a community. Annals of Tourism Research, 12, 147–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W., Schwer, R. K., Hoyt, R. & Brosnan, D. (1993). Not in my backyard: Las Vegas residents protest casinos.” Journal of Gambling Studies, 9, 47–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Worsnop, R. (1996). Gambling under attack. CQ Researcher, 6(33), 769–792.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, 38152

    David Giacopassi

  2. The University of Nevada, Reno

    Mark Nichols & B. Grant Stitt

Authors
  1. David Giacopassi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark Nichols
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Grant Stitt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Giacopassi, D., Nichols, M. & Stitt, B.G. Attitudes of Community Leaders in New Casino Jurisdictions Regarding Casino Gambling's Effects on Crime and Quality of Life. J Gambl Stud 15, 123–147 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022282208218

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022282208218

Keywords

Search

Navigation