Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Gambling, Crime and Society pp 31–62Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Bringing Crime to the City? Casinos, Betting Shops and Criminality

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 746 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter considers the relationship between the proliferation and propinquity of betting establishments and crime. It draws upon structural theories and wide ranging empirical evidence to explore the interconnections between the availability of gambling opportunities and criminality. In the UK, the extent to which the presence of betting shops – housing Fixed Odds Betting Terminals – increases incidences of incivility, anti-social behaviour and crime has framed contemporary debate. Similar concerns have been raised in North America where the large-scale development of casinos and other gambling establishments has taken place. Several different forms of crime have been associated with the widening availability of gambling, including crimes committed by operators, owners, employees and patrons of gambling venues. In particular, the degree to which the legal expansion of gambling operations, typically casinos, is associated with an increase in street crime has been a principal focus of academic exploration. The chapter assesses whether or not the research evidence supports the assumption that the introduction of (certain types of) gambling establishments leads to a rise in crime in and around the area in which they are located.

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

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In short, routine activities centre on ‘where people spend their time and with whom they come into contact’ (Messner and Blau, 1987, p. 1037).

  2. 2.

    Hakim and Friedman’s study examined four types of property crime – robberies, burglaries, larcenies and vehicle thefts – and violent crimes.

  3. 3.

    Unemployment, population, community wealth.

  4. 4.

    Adjusted for temporary visitors.

References

  • Akers, R. L. (1991). Self-control as a general theory of crime. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 7(2), 201–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albanese, J. (1985). The effect of casino gambling on crime. Federal Probation, 48, 39–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Astbury, G., & Wardle, H. (2015). Secondary analysis of machines data: Examining the effect of proximity and concentration of B2 machines to gambling play. Prepared by Geofutures for The Responsible Gambling Trust. Bath: Geofutures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks, J., & Moxon, D. (2012). UIEGA and the rise and rise of gaming and gambling in the UK, CrimeTalk. http://www.crimetalk.org.uk/library/section-list/38-frontpage-articles/622-uigea-gaming-and-gambling-uk.html. Accessed 20 May 2016.

  • Barthe, E., & Stitt, B. (2007). Casinos as ‘hot spots’ and the generation of crime. Journal of Crime & Justice, 30(2), 115–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barthe, E., & Stitt, B. G. (2009a). Impact of casinos on criminogenic patterns. Police Practice and Research, 10(3), 255–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barthe, E., & Stitt, B. G. (2009b). Temporal distributions of crime and disorder in casino and non-casino zones. Journal of Gambling Studies, 25(2), 139–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berry, R. (2013). Councils are almost powerless to prevent the spread of betting shops on local high streets. http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/councils-are-almost-powerless-to-prevent-the-spread-of-betting-shops-on-local-high-streets/. Accessed 24 September 2016.

  • Brantingham, P. L., & Brantingham, P. J. (1995). Criminality of place: Crime generators and crime attractors. European Journal of Criminal Policy and Research, 3(3), 5–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy, R. (2014a). ‘A place for men to come and do their thing’: Constructing masculinities in betting shops in London. The British Journal of Sociology, 65(1), 170–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy, R. (2014b). Horse versus machine: Battles in the betting shop. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 18(2), 266–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, S. (1996). The impact of casinos on crime: The case of Biloxi, Mississippi. Journal of Criminal Justice, 24, 431–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, L., & Felson, M. (1979). Social change and crime rate trends: A routine activity approach. American Sociological Review, 44, 588–608.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cornish, D. B., & Clarke, R. V. (1986). The reasoning criminal: Rational choice perspectives on offending. New York, NY: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Curran, J. J. (1995). The house never loses and Maryland cannot win: Why casino gaming is a bad idea. Report presented to the joint executive-legislative task force to study commercial gaming activities in Maryland by the State Attorney General.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curran, J., & Scarpitti, F. (1991). Crime in Atlantic City: Do casinos make a difference?. Deviant Behavior, 12, 431–449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demeriva, N. (2014). Rise in betting shops fuels crime fears. http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/economic-social-research-council-esrc/article/esrc-rise-in-betting-shops-fuels-crime-fears. Accessed 24 September 2016.

  • Eadington, W. R. (1999). The economics of casino gambling. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 13(3), 173–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, W., & Topoleski, J. (2002). The social and economic impact of native American casinos. NBER Working Paper No. 9198. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fenich, G. (1998). Casino gaming and crime: Beliefs are changing. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Education, 10(2), 37–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, J., Hakim, S., & Weinblatt, J. (1989). Casino gambling as a ‘growth pole’ strategy and its effect on crime. Journal of Regional Science, 29(4), 615–623.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gazel, R. C., Rickman, D. S., & Thompson, W. N. (2001). Gambling and crime: A panel study of Wisconsin counties. Managerial Decision and Economics, 22(1–3), 65–75.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giacopassi, D., & Stitt, B. G. (1993). Assessing the impact of casino crime in Mississippi. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 18, 117–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giacopassi, D., Stitt, B. G., & Nichols, M. W. (2001). Community perception of casino gambling’s effect on crime in new gambling jurisdictions. The Justice Professional, 14, 151–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilliland, J. A., & Ross, N. A. (2005). Opportunities for video lottery terminal gambling in Montréal: An environmental analysis. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 96, 55–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilmore, P. (2012). Results of a study into crime, disorder and nuisance linked to licensed betting offices. Report to Licensing Committee: 8 November 2012. http://www.ealing.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/1485/item_8_crime_and_disorder_and_betting_premises. Accessed 24 September 2016.

  • Glaser, D. (1971). Social deviance. Chicago: Markham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, M., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, M. D. (2011). Betting shops and crime: Is there a relationship?. Internet Journal of Criminology, 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grinols, E. L., & Mustard, D. B. (2006). Casinos, crime, and community costs. Review of Economics and Statistics, 88(1), 28–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grinols, E. L., & Mustard, D. B. (2008). Correctly critiquing casino-crime causality. Econ Journal Watch, 5(1), 21–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hakim, S., & Buck, A. (1989). Do casinos enhance crime?. Journal of Criminal Justice, 17, 409–416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakim, S., & Friedman, J. (1985). The impact of casino gambling on crime in Atlantic City and its region. Unpublished Funded Project Report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hancock, L., & Orford, J. (2014). FOBTs: Beyond regulation?. In B. Slack & C. Simmonds (Eds.), Fixed odds betting terminals: Are we gambling with our nation’s well-being? London: New Statesman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hey, S. (2008). Our national love affair: A history of the betting shop. The Independent, 5 April 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, B., & Lee, Y. S. (2010). Legal gambling and crime: Evidence from EGMs in Alberta. http://www.jogoremoto.pt/docs/extra/OY31Tv.pdf. Accessed 24 September 2016.

  • Humphreys, B. R., & Soebbing, B. P. (2014). Access to legal gambling and the incidence of crime: Evidence from Alberta. Growth and Change, 45(1), 98–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyclaks, T. (2011). Casinos and campus crime. Economics Letters, 112(1), 31–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, L. T., & Ratcliffe, J. H. (2014). A partial test of the impact of a casino on neighborhood crime. Security Journal, 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koo, J., Rosentraub, M. S., & Horn, A. (2007). Rolling the dice? Casinos, tax revenues, and the social costs of gaming. Journal of Urban Affairs, 29(4), 367–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, R. C. (1990). State-corporate crime. Paper presented at the North Central Sociological Association and the Southern Sociological Association, Louisville, KY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, P., & Yoshimoto, H. (2016). Do crime-prone areas attract gambling shops? A case of London boroughs. Unpublished paper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamont, T. (2016). The big gamble: The dangerous world of British betting shops. The Guardian [online] 31 May. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/may/31/big-gamble-dangerous-british-betting-shops. Accessed 24 September 2016.

  • Livingstone, C. (1999). Hopelessness and loss: Victoria’s gambling culture. Arena Magazine, 42, 34–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magoon, M., Gupta, R., & Derevensky, J. (2005). Juvenile delinquency and adolescent gambling: Implications for the juvenile justice system. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 32, 690–713.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, D. C. (1998). Missing the jackpot: The proliferation of gambling in Australia and its effect on local communities. Australian Geographical Studies, 36(3), 237–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, D., & Baker, R. (2001). Unfair odds? Factors influencing the distribution of electronic gaming machines in Melbourne. Urban Policy and Research, 19(1), 77–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messner, F., & Blau, J. R. (1987). Routine leisure activities and rates of crime: A macro-level analysis. Social Forces, 65(4), 1035–1052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, J., & Schwartz, N. (1998). Casino gambling and street crime. Annals, 556, 124–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • New York State. (1979). Report of Attorney General Robert Abrams in opposition to legalised casino gambling in New York State. Albany, NY: Department of Law.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newall, P. W. S.. (2015). How bookies make your money. Judgment and Decision Making, 10(3), 225–231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, M. W., & Tosun, M. S. (2013). The impact of legalized casino gambling on crime. Discussion paper No. 7299. Institute for the Study of Labor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ochrym, R. G. (1988). Street crime in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In W. R. Eadington (Ed.), Gambling research: proceedings of the seventh international conference on gambling and risk taking (pp. 130–152). Reno, NV: University of Nevada- Reno.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, A. J. (1994). Toward gaming regulation. Part I: Crime. A report of the Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight. http://student.nesl.edu/research/Legislative_Council/gaming_regulation_crime_1994.pdf. Accessed 24 September 2016.

  • Park, M., & Stokowski, P. A. (2011). Casino gaming and crime: Comparisons among gaming counties and other tourism places. Journal of Travel Research, 50(3), 289–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Philander, K. S., & Bernhard, B. J. (2012). Informing the public debate: Academic research on crime and casinos. Las Vegas: UNLV International Gaming Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phipps, A. G. (2004). Crime and disorder, and house sales and prices around the casino site in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Canadian Geographer, 48(4), 403–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piscitelli, F., & Albanese, J. S. (2000). Do casinos attract criminals? A study at the Canadian-US border. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 16(4), 445–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Portas, M. (2011). The Portas review: An independent review into the future of our high streets. London: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh, R. (2016). Betting shops odds-on favourites to be targeted by robbers, police warn. The Guardian [online] 22 July. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/22/betting-shops-serious-crime-robbery-metropolitan-police-flying-squad. Accessed 24 September 2016.

  • Reece, W. (2010). Casinos, hotels, and crime. Contemporary Economic Policy, 28(2), 145–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sawer, P. (2013). Masked armed robber dies after being pinned down. The Telegraph, 26 January 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, L., Gartin, P., & Buerger, M. (1989). Hot spots of predatory crime: Routine activities and the criminology of place. Criminology, 27, 27–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, G., Wynne, H., & Hartnagel, T. (2003). Examining police records to assess gambling impacts: A study of gambling-related crime in the City of Edmonton. Study. Edmonton: Prepared for The Alberta Gaming Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, G. J., Hartnagel, T. F., & Wynne, H. (2009). Gambling-related crime in a major Canadian city. In J. F. Cosgrave & T. R. Klassen (Eds.), Casino state: Legalized gambling in Canada (pp. 161–191). Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternleib, G., & Hughes, J. W. (1983). The Atlantic City gamble: A twentieth century fund report. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stitt, B. G., Giacopassi, D., & Nichols, M. (2000). The effect of casino gambling on crime in new casino jurisdictions. Journal of Crime and Justice, 33(1), 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stitt, B. G., Nichols, M., & Giacopassi, D. (2003). Does the presence of casinos increase crime? An examination of casino and control communities. Crime and Delinquency, 49(2), 253–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tombs, S., & Turner, J. (2015). Fixed odds betting terminals: The psychology of state-corporate harm maximisation. https://oucriminology.wordpress.com/2015/02/02/fixed-odds-betting-terminals-the-psychology-of-state-corporate-harm-maximisation/. Accessed 24 September 2016.

  • Thompson, W., Gazel, R., & Rickman, D. (1996). Casinos and crime in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Policy. Institute Report, 9(9), 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W. N., Gazel, R., & Rickman, D. (1997). Social and legal costs of compulsive gambling. Gaming Law Review, I, 81–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNLV. (2016). Reports, data sets, and research guides. http://gaming.unlv.edu/reports.html. Accessed 19 January 2017.

  • Walker, D. M. (2008). Do casinos really cause crime? Econ. Journal Watch, 5(1), 4–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, D. M. (2010). Handbook on the economics of crime. In B. Benson and P. Zimmerman (Eds.), Casinos and crime in the US (pp. 488–517). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wardle, H. (2015). Exploring area-based vulnerability to gambling-related harm: Who is vulnerable? Findings from a quick scoping review. Bath: Gambling & Place Research Hub, Geofutures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler, B. W., Rigby, J. E., & Huriwai, T. (2006). Pokies and poverty: Problem gambling risk factor geography in New Zealand. Health and Place, 12(1), 86–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. (2001). Riverboat gambling and crime in Indiana: An empirical investigation. Crime and Delinquency, 47(4), 610–640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodhouse, J. (2014). Fixed odds betting terminals. Briefing Paper Number 06946. London: House of Commons Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zabielskis, P. (2015). Too big to be bad? Implications for theory and review of research on crimes, vices, and misdeeds in the casino culture of Macau. Crime, Law and Social Change, 64(2), 127–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Law and Criminology, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    James Banks

Authors
  1. James Banks
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Copyright information

© 2017 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Banks, J. (2017). Bringing Crime to the City? Casinos, Betting Shops and Criminality. In: Gambling, Crime and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57994-2_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-57994-2_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-137-57993-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-57994-2

  • eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation