Casino Gambling as a Catalyst of Economic Development: Perceptions of Residents in New Casino Jurisdictions

Using survey data gathered in 1999 from eight new US casino jurisdictions, this research examines citizens' perceptions of casino gambling as a tool of economic and tourism development. In particular, the paper examines whether residents perceive that casinos have revitalized their communities by rejuvenating the local economy, attracting new industries and increasing tourism, or whether the impact has been more negative, resulting in, for example, business closure and in the casinos taking more out of the community than they contribute to it. The results suggest that, on average, casinos are perceived to be a positive catalyst for economic and tourism development. However, geographical proximity to the casino, demographic characteristics, and the structure of the industry are all important determinants in the creation of these perceptions.