Sunday, July 15, 2007
Jul. 15, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
THE CASINO EFFECT
Gambling's impact on other cities defied predictions
On Aug. 7 voters in Sedgwick County will decide whether to allow casino gambling, something that supporters and opponents alike say would bring big changes. But in five similar communities, casinos haven't had the extreme negative effects that opponents predict, nor all the benefits that proponents tout.
As the debate intensifies in advance of the vote, The Eagle visited five areas that have had casinos for years to see if they changed the character of the communities.
In Des Moines; St. Louis; the Quad Cities, in Iowa and Illinois; Reno, Nev.; and Topeka, we spoke with residents, gamblers, casino employees, business owners, area leaders and others.
The communities are diverse, but all have similarities to Wichita, and a few generalities did emerge:
--Casinos can have a significant economic impact through taxes paid to state and local governments.
Cities and states have seen major projects and renovations made possible with gambling taxes. Two cities on the Illinois side of the river near St. Louis even claim they were saved from severe economic distress by their casinos.
In Reno, the very nature of the casino industry is changing. Old-school casinos that don't offer anything more than gambling are closing. 'Destination casinos' that include spas, convention centers, hotels, shopping and other amenities are doing well.
Reno has made a big effort in the past 10 years to market itself as 'America's Adventure Place,' touting its outdoor activities as well as gambling.
--Major crime hasn't followed casinos to towns we visited, according to law enforcement officials and residents.
--Business owners report mixed results. Some say they were hurt immediately after a casino opened near them but have recovered. Others say they still are hurting, and still others say casinos have had no effect.
People who gamble usually stay in the casinos, which are cities unto themselves, with shopping, restaurants and hotels available, so businesses haven't seen much spin-off from casino patrons.
--In some cases, but not in all, development has built up around casinos.
--Hidden social costs such as bankruptcy and addiction have tended to increase in these casino communities, but local officials don't have a clear handle on how extensive they are in their communities.
The casino experiences in each of these communities shared similarities, but they were notable for their differences, as well.
The differences tended to be shaped by the economic, political and social experiences unique to each community.
The series starts today with a visit to Des Moines and nearby Altoona, home of the Prairie Meadows Casino and Racetrack. An agrarian prairie state like ours, Iowa has just opened its 20th casino after starting small in the early 1990s.
Monday, we'll take you to St Louis, where five riverboats are moored on both sides of the Mississippi River.
Tuesday, it's the Quad Cities area farther north up the Mississippi, where casinos were the impetus for riverfront development.
Wednesday, we'll visit Reno, Nev., where casinos are the major industry but city officials are working to create a new image for the area.
Thursday, we will stay in Kansas to study the effects of the American Indian casinos north of Topeka.
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