The societal costs of problem gambling are staggering, from addiction, divorce, indebtedness, bankruptcies, suicide and gambling-related crimes, to increased unemployment, public assistance costs, health care costs, and rates of imprisonment. These costs are much higher than any financial benefit a casino can bring to your community.

When casinos appear in a community, it brings a wave of addiction, affecting 3 – 5 times more than the number of people with cancer. The American Psychiatric Association estimates 1 – 3% of the US population is addicted to gambling, with rates as high as 8% among youth. A casino within 10 miles of a home yields a 90% increased risk of its inhabitants becoming gambling addicts.

Casinos also lead to sharp increases in indebtedness and bankruptcy. The most recent study of all casino counties in the nation confirms that personal bankruptcy rates are 100% higher in counties with casinos than in counties without casinos. Not surprisingly, a study of addicted gamblers found that 20-30% of respondents had made suicide attempts, the highest known rate of attempts among any addictive population. Nevada has had the nation’s highest suicide rates for 10 of the last 12 years.

As gamblers become desperate to recover losses, they often turn to crime. Fraud and embezzlement committed by formerly hard working and loyal employees victimize businesses. Three years following the introduction of casinos to Atlantic City, New Jersey, crime rates tripled, moving that community from 50th in the nation for per capita crime to first. Nevada is clearly the country’s most dangerous community when considering rates for murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft.