Gambling can be a winning proposition for everyone--not just the lucky blackjack player holding a hand of 21. This report looks at what it takes to ensure gambling contributes to a community's overall well-being. Drawing on a review of current research, the report investigates the challenges that local officals, planners, and historic preservationists face when introducing casinos into a community. It examines ways to make sure that gambling operations contribute to the local economy and fit within the area's economic development and heritage tourism plans. Five case studies illustrate the dos and don'ts of establishing gambling operations.

In the history of Central City and Black Hawk, Colorado, there have been three great moments exceeding all capacity for imagination and prediction: the discovery of gold in 1859; the renewal of Central City's opera in 1932; and the opening of casino gaming in 1991. Gambling was adopted to stimulate the local economy and bring new riches to the Gilpin County towns, replicating the accomplishments of previous mining and opera times. Yet, it was not long after gambling was approved that residents began expressing regrets over what they had lost in the transformation of their community. In Riches and Regrets, Patricia Stokowski traces the development of contemporary Gilpin County gambling from the proposal and campaign stage in 1989 and 1990, through the construction period leading to the opening of casinos in October 1991, and across several years of post-opening impacts. Combining critical historical perspectives with sociological analyses, Stokowski documents the economic, social, cultural, and institutional effects of the gaming development, concluding that gambling has produced mixed results for the Gilpin County towns. With gambling becoming increasingly popular as an economic development strategy in both rural and urban communities across America, Riches and Regrets can provide lessons for other communities seeking their own golden dreams at the card tables and slot machines.

Covering the entire United States gaming market, Legalized Casino Gaming in the United States provides gaming researchers, policymakers, and hospitality students comprehensive overview of the history, development, legislation, and economic and social impacts of riverboat, land-based, and Native American casino gaming. Containing national and regional research about the industry, this book will provide students with a historical view on gaming and the hospitality industry, offer researchers data and current market status of the industry; and will give policymakers information about the advantages and disadvantages of a gaming industry in their community. Comprehensive and thorough, Legalized Casino Gaming in the United States is full of case studies, data, and surveys that provide you with credible information on community incomes, residents’attitudes about gaming, and gaming taxes in certain states. This fact-filled book will help you evaluate and learn about the pros and cons of the industry, including: reviewing changes in the gaming laws and regulations in particular regions and segments of the industry explaining laws and regulations by state for riverboat and other Native American land-based gaming examining negative and positive social impacts of gaming, including crime; quality of life; community services; availability of entertainment, recreation, and cultural activities; community attractiveness, such as reputation, appearance, cleanliness, and traffic; local resident attitudes; and pathological gaming explaining Nevada’s gaming regulatory system, including the roles of the Nevada Gaming Commission and Gaming Control Board, and discussing issues related to currency transactions, exclusion lists, work permits, customer disputes, and underage gambling discussing positive economic aspects of Native American gaming, such as tax benefits, in Connecticut, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Minnesota, and how the industry impacts surrounding communities Examining the industry from ethical, economic, and social standpoints, the contributors offer you several perspectives of a situation, not just one side of an issue, to help you make educated decisions or opinions about gaming. Bolstered with charts, graphs, tables, and future research recommendations, Legalized Casino Gaming in the United States offers you an in-depth and comprehensive look at the gaming industry, helping you weigh the positive and negative effects of one of the most popular areas of hospitality.

The casino industry has been on a wild ride for three quarters of a century. What started as an attempt at economic development in the desert and turned into a haven for organized crime, is today one of the fastest growing industries around the world. This book traces the history of American gaming from the first European settlers to the Nevada experiment. Along the way readers will learn about the impact of gaming on society and the early attempts to minimize that impact. History of Gambling in America, The, 1/e then takes readers through the evolution of the gaming industry in Nevada as it deals with organized crime. In the process, a template for strict enforcement of laws to ensure the integrity of the casinos emerges that benefits the industry, the state, and the customers. A book on gaming cannot be complete without addressing the reasons for legalization and the reasons against it. Social issues such as crime, bankruptcy, and disordered gambling are also thoroughly covered.

Casino gambling has spread throughout the world, and continues to spread. As governments try to cope with fiscal pressures, legalized casinos offer a possible source of additional tax revenue. But casino gambling is often controversial, as some people have moral objections to gambling. In addition, a small percentage of the population may become pathological gamblers who may create significant social costs. The Economics of Casino Gambling is a comprehensive discussion of the social and economic costs and benefits of legalized gambling. It is the first comprehensive discussion of these issues available on the market.