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Gambling impact study met with opposition

Posted on June 24th, 2010

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Kathleen Conley Norbut, president of United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts is raising questions on a recent study made by Massachusetts Senator Stanley Rosenberg regarding the benefits of the construction of casinos in the state. Senator Rosenberg, on Monday commented back to critics saying that his report, duly funded by taxpayers themselves, focused on only the economic benefits. Such benefits includes the creation of over ten thousand jobs and can contribute almost $500 million in earnings annually. Critics of this report however are questioning as to why the social costs of this project were not included or quantified.

Senator Rosenberg further defended his work by saying that estimating social costs would largely depend on the location where the casinos will be placed. “It’s totally situational,I’ve met with academic experts and they say there is no proven reliable methodology to predict in advance what the community impact is going to be on an economy.” Said the senator. He even urged critics to fund their own study if they want a social cost-benefit analysis of the project.

United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts president Norbut is crying false on this take by the senator. She claims this is “absolutely false” and explains that it is very possible to create an estimation for all kinds of casinos, may it be rural, suburban, and urban. She said that a more thorough study should be conducted before furthering the bill. Norbut has helped out people from Connecticut with a similar study and she argues that the same can be used as a reference for the present case. She further explains that what may be preventing the statesmen to make a complete study is the amount of time needed to gather such information. It is known that lawmakers are rushing the bill before legislative sessions end on July 31. Norbut’s camp is not planning to conduct their own study to include social impact costs because the group thinks the state should, and is more than capable to do so. Another anti expanded gambling advocate, former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger wrote to Senate President Therese Murray suggesting for the Senate to be responsible for the social costs brought about by the expanded gambling bill.

The $80,000 funded report may not have quantified social costs included in it, but it is suggesting a percentage, about 10% of revenues raked in be set aside for offsetting the negative impacts of gambling in neighboring communities. An estimated 35% will go into treating gambling addiction.

Governor Patrick is siding with the Senate on their stand saying that while it is most likely that casinos will create problems in the society, there are means and ways to resolve this by getting the government involved in providing solution. The Government would rather look into the great economic benefit the state will enjoy such as multitudes of employment opportunities when the casinos become fully operational. “Some of the opponents do raise appropriate concerns about the human impact, and anybody who’s talking about this without talking about the human impact isn’t telling the whole story,” “There is a way to strike that balance and do it responsibly.” said the Governor.

The state also cannot deny the people who are not prone to the social effects of gambling the employment opportunities and an increase in revenue which translates to an increase in budget for the state if the casino bill is passed . True, people will be affected by casinos and gambling in the area but Governor Patrick and the Senate believes that the state is fully capable of addressing these effects and indeed, as previously said, precautions will be made.