How to Find the Negative Effects of Casino Gambling

For many, a trip to a casino is an exciting treat. For others, casino gambling becomes an addiction that can lead to a loss of life savings, security, family or worse. Casinos can also displace local businesses, cause traffic problems and provide a venue for criminal elements. Gathering information on the negative effects of casino gambling gives needed information to those concerned about gambling in their community.

Instructions

Individual Level

• 1

  Contact the main offices of Gamblers Anonymous (GA) at 213-386-8789. Talk with the agent about your needs and request any information on local meetings or have flyers and pamphlets sent to you that address gambling and negative side effects.

• 2

  Attend a meeting of Gamblers Anonymous at the address and time provided by the main number. If you are not the addict, simply sit quietly at the meeting and announce yourself, what you are looking for and if anyone is willing to provide you with the needed information. Because the 12 step program GA works under is based on anonymity it is asked you do not discuss who you saw or what you heard to anyone outside the meeting.

• 3

  Contact the main office of the American Gaming Association (AGA). This is the organization of casinos and games of chance. It may seem counter-intuitive to ask the casino trade group for information on negative effects of gambling, but they have a branch dedicated to responsible gambling. Contact the main office at 202-552-2675. Request information on gambling and addiction.

• 4

  Go to the AGA website and click the "Responsible Gaming" link. Choose the links to information and statistics on gaming and its effect on individuals, families and communities.

Community Wide

• 5

  Use the databases at the Center for Disease Control, the National Opinion Research Center (NORC), and the U.S. General Accounting Office to access published articles on the effects of casinos on cities and communities. These databases are typically free (a modest fee may be charged for some documents) and provide non-partisan studies and the results.

• 6

  Reference the U.S. Department of Justice and its studies of the crime rates in cities with casino gambling. One such example is the "Effects of Casino Gambling on Crime and Quality of Life in New Casino Jurisdictions, Final Report," by Grant Stitt.

• 7

  Use the archives of newspapers based in or near casino cities. Examples include the Press of Atlantic City, Las Vegas Sun and the Branson Tri-Lakes News (also consider the St. Louis based newspapers). Use the archives to find trends in crime rates, human interest stories on gambling within the community and related statistics.