Riverboat Gambling in Lousiana

should be more commercial casinos built in Louisiana.

Brandon Brooks

Speech 120 M - TR

June 27, 2007

I. Introduction

The negative stereotypes often associated with casinos of the past have given way to a booming industry that is being readily accepted into mainstream America. Cities across the United States are voting to build new casinos in their areas. Casinos generate large percentages of revenue for local and state governments across the country, especially along the Gulf Coast. The revenue received in Louisiana helps to support state and local projects that all citizens benefit from, such as roadways and public education. By increasing the number of commercial casinos in Louisiana we can in turn increase the amount of money available for development.

II. Body

A. Casinos have a positive economic impact on the communities in which they are built.

1. Sayre, Alan, "AP Centerpiece: Louisiana gambling booms, but for how long?," The Associated Press State & Local Wire, June 26, 2006 Monday, State and Regional, NEW ORLEANS, LA

* "The Mississippi Gulf Coast is the third best gaming market in the country. The amount of capital being spent there makes the market comparable with the best markets"

2. Fahrenkopf, Frank J., "Legalized Gambling Benefits Local Economies". Gambling. James D. Torr, Ed. Opposing Viewpoints Series. Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 18 June 2007 "

* "A study at the University of Chicago showed that communities closest to casinos experienced a 12%-17% drop in welfare payments, unemployment rates, and unemployment insurance"

3. Casino Association of Louisiana June 2007: http://www.casinosoflouisisana.com/factmyth.htm

* "20% of casino employees have been able to end their dependence on some form of government assistance as a result of their employment."

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B. Casinos generate tax revenues for state and local development.

1. Sayre, Alan, "Katrina's hit on Louisiana gambling to last for a while," The Associated Press State & Local Wire, September 30, 2005, Friday, State and Regional, BATON ROUGE, LA

* "State government has learned to count on gambling revenue when making annual budgets."

2. American Gaming Association, June 2007: http://www.americangaming.org/Industry/factsheets/statistics_detail.cfv?id=10

* "Louisiana casinos paid out $527.8m in tax revenues in 2006."

3. McGill, Kevin, "Hurricanes bring sharp drop in Louisiana casino revenue," The Associated Press State & Local Wire, October 18, 2005, Tuesday, State and Regional, BATON ROUGE, LA.

* "Harrah's pays about $164,000 a day or $4.9million a month, in taxes under its agreement with the state."

4. Government Performance Project: Http://www.gpponline.org/StateCategoryCriteria.aspx?id=110&relatedid=2

* "Gambling revenues pay for education."

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C. There is no correlation between increased crime and the building of casinos.

1. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States 2005. Uniform Crime Reporting Program, June 2007 http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius.

* "According to data collected by the FBI from nearly 17,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide, the crime rate in the Las Vegas metropolitan area for 2005, which includes any crimes committed by the more that 38.5 million annual visitors that year, was lower than many other American tourists destinations, including Miami, Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, and Phoenix."

2. Waddell, David, "Casino Gambling Does Not Cause Crime," Legalized Gambling. David M. Haugen, Ed. Contemporary Issues Companion Series. Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 18 June 2007

http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/OVRC

* "According to Detroit's Official Uniform Crime Report, Part 1 crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, and larceny) have dropped 24% since casino gaming was introduced to the city."

3. Metzger, Kurt and Booza, Jason, Reality vs. Perceptions: An Analysis of Crime and Safety in Downtown Detroit. The Michigan Metropolitan Information Center, Wayne State University, June 2005.

* "Based on a detailed analysis of Detroit crime statistics, the crime rate in Downtown Detroit is significantly lower than the average crime rate for the US, state of Michigan, and Michigan metro areas."

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D. A relatively small percentage of gamblers become compulsive gamblers.

1. Chapman, Steve, "The Dangers of Compulsive Gambling Are Exaggerated". Addiction. Louise I. Gerdes, Ed. Opposing Viewpoints Series. Greenhaven Press, 2004. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Thomson Gale. 18 June 2007

http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/OVRC

* "An estimated 1.6% of American adults will become pathological gamblers, compared with 6.2% who will succumb to drug addiction and 13.8% who will become alcoholics."

2. Public Sector Gaming Study Commission. Final Report of the Public Sector Gaming Study Commission. Pg 35, 2006

* "In short, there is no solid basis for concluding that the wider legalization of gambling and friendly betting, has caused a concomitant increase in pathological gambling."

Body cont'd

3. Fahrenkopf, Frank J., "The Gaming Industry Promotes Responsible Gambling"