The impact of casino proximity on northeast urban communities: a literature review

Abstract

Gambling legalization, regulation, and casino proliferation in the United States have increased casino-gambling participation. The three A’s (accessibility, availability, and acceptability), known as ecological predictors of casino-gambling participation, have also been linked to the flood of casinos, including the influx of urban casinos in major metropolitan cities along the northeast corridor. Links between casino proximity, increased casino participation, and gambling-related problems are reported in the gambling and casino proximity literature but the relationship between casino proximity and urban casino communities have not been fully investigated in current literature. The purpose of this article is to present a comprehensive review of casino proximity and northeast urban casinos and host communities to the discussion on the construct, casino proximity and the impact on northeast urban casino communities by explaining the implications to those communities through extensive literature review. The review found that (i) urban casinos are typically placed in low socio-economic communities with some existing gambling culture, (ii) socio-economic improvement are promised to existing disadvantaged communities prior to the adoption of casinos, but modest economic benefits realized in urban casino neighborhoods are unsustainable, and (iii) increased accessibility and availability of urban casinos due to proximity could increase casino participation, which in turn could potentially increase gambling-related problems. Results of this literature review also indicated that gambling-related problems from proximity to casinos could produce negative socio-economic outcomes for host communities. Key stakeholders (including legislators, community workers, social services professionals, scholar-practitioners, and the casino-gambling industry) could benefit from this review given the increase in urban casino in major metro areas, and the potential impact those casinos can have on host and neighboring communities. Although very little is known about the impact of casino proximity on northeast corridor urban casinos in the megalopolis, even less is known about the relationship between proximity of urban casinos and their impact on host communities. Further investigation, particularly on the socio-economic outcomes for urban casino communities, is warranted.

Are Out-of-State Players the Target Market? A Geospatial Analysis of the Gambling Export Strategy in the United States

“…Other stakeholder interests are less well studied, but available evidence suggests that public health advocates may prefer locations away from population centers. Risks of problematic gambling appear to be related to gambling frequency (LaPlante & Shaffer, 2007; Potenza et al, 2019), and gambling frequency was demonstrated to be related to access convenience (O’Gilvie, 2022; Papineau et al, 2020; Philander, 2019; Philander et al, 2022; St-Pierre et al, 2014). Also, higher risks to socioeconomically disadvantaged populations tend to occur in urban areas, which may further motivate local public health stakeholders to encourage remote locations (Conway, 2015; Pérez et al, 2022).…”

The effects of casino proximity and time on poverty levels in New York City

“…The hybrid racetrack casino, or racino, mainly offers electronic gaming machines (EGM) slot machines, while some only operate video lottery terminals (VLTs) based on the classi cation and regulations of the host state. Three major urban northeast corridor cities, NYC, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, host urban casinos, but only NYC hosts a racino, or a pari-mutuel casino, Resorts World New York City (RWNYC), which is attached to the Aqueduct Racetrack, and operates only VLTs regulated by The New York State Lottery Division (American Casino Guide, n.d.;O'Gilvie, 2022;Turner et al, 2018).…”

“…Following years of relaxed gambling rules, regulations, and expansion, gambling outlets and opportunities have increased, such that casinos have opened in major metropolitan cities throughout the United States (Conway, 2015;Tolchard, 2015), making casino gambling also accessible and available. In addition, years of consistent gambling deregulation and casino expansions, introduced the urban casino (Conway, 2015;O'Gilvie, 2022) and expanded casino gambling to urban cities and local communities.…”