The idea of building a new casino can be hard to understand. When people promise that additional jobs and economic growth will come, the local community frequently strongly opposes it. This is a classic case of wanting to make money but being afraid of the societal implications. People who live and work there have real worries that go beyond just disagreeing about entertainment.
Our Neighborhood’s Gambling
The Fear of Social Costs
Fear of a bad social effect is a big reason why people in the community are against it. People living in the region are worried for a casino to make crime rates go up. Many people thinks about the increasing addiction in gambling, among populations that are more likely to be affected, like the elderly and people with low incomes. Some people are worried that it will bring more traffic and noise, which they regard as a big threat to their quality of life.
The Economy and Its Effects on the Local Area
People who are against it also have big doubts about the economic benefits that developers often claim. Critics say that the jobs that are produced are frequently low-paying service jobs that don’t do anything to help the local economy. People are afraid of economic cannibalization, this is when a casino’s restaurants and entertainment facilities took a business away from local eateries and stores. This can push small businesses out of the area and undermine the economy of the neighborhood. The tax money that was promised often doesn’t cover the social costs.
Concluding Thoughts
People in the community are against new casinos because they have real social and economic concerns. There is a real conflict between creating jobs and the possibility of more crime, addiction, and traffic. Developers need to be clear and honest about these kind of problems once they want a new casino to do well. The only way to make sure that a development is really good for everyone and will last is to build trust with the people who live there.