Social Impact

Most opponents of expanding gaming point to negative social consequences, as the primary reason casino gambling should not be allowed.  The problem with this logic is that Kansas already has casino gambling. There are currently 4 Native American casinos in North Central Kansas, as well as 4 riverboat casino's near the Kansas-Missouri border in Kansas City. Not to mention tribal casino's along the Oklahoma-Kansas border. Kansan's are choosing to spend their entertainment dollars on casino gambling today. So if there are social costs to gambling we have the costs today but without any monetary benefit or funding to treat problem gamblers. A report issued by the National Public Sector Gaming Study Commission, part of the National Council of Legislators from Gaming States, suggests some unexpected findings contrary to what gaming opponents would like you to believe.

Compulsive or Pathological Gamblers

The Gaming Study determined "there is no solid basis for concluding that the wider legalization of gambling…has caused a concomitant increase in pathological gambling".  The study sites said other psychological symptoms such as manic disorder create the gambling problem, not gambling in itself.

Crime

Gambling opponents argue that an increase in crime will follow when casino gambling is allowed.  These statements are based on fictional portrayals of casino gaming shown in movies and on television.  The fact is casino gambling has expanded throughout the nation over the last 20 years, but according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation published reports, property crime, theft robbery and burglary have declined during the past several years.  One needs to ask the question, "Has crime increased" in North Kansas City, Missouri since the riverboats started operation or has crime increased in Topeka, Kansas since the Tribal casino opened just 20 miles north.  The answer is NO.

Suicide

Those against casino gambling will say that problem gamblers, the large debt created by gambling and more family problems will cause an increase in suicide.  According to the National Public Sector Gaming Study Commission, a study examined mortality rates in six counties prior to and after the introduction of gambling to the counties. Five of the 6 counties actually showed death by suicide decreased after legalized gambling was introduced.

Bankruptcy

Consistent with other opponents arguments, national reports refute the theory that bankruptcy increases when legalized gambling is introduced to a community.  According to a U. S. Department of Treasury report. "It is, therefore very likely that numerous factors contributed (to an increase in bankruptcy) … on an average, frequent high-risk gambling raises the probability of bankruptcy by 6 percentage points … Since only 2.7 percent of the population fall into the category of high-risk gamblers, the impact.. is relatively small." (source: National Public Sector Gaming Study Commission)