Social and Economic Impacts of Casino Introduction to Massachusetts

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Reports

Author(s): SEIGMA Research Team

Publisher: University of Massachusetts School of Public Health and Health Sciences

Year Published: 2024

Date Added: November 01, 2024

Resource Type: Research report

This report summarizes impacts from the introduction of casino gambling in Massachusetts, starting in 2015. It brings together the findings from 55 reports published since the SEIGMA (Social and Economic Impacts of Gambling in Massachusetts) research project began in 2013. The study is one of the most comprehensive examinations of the introduction of casinos.

Findings include:

The three casinos in the state have not increased the prevalence of problem gambling, likely due to the accessibility of casino gambling in nearby states.
Much of the additional economic activity comes from spending from people at risk of or experiencing problem gambling, estimated to be 90% of casino revenue in 2021/2022.
The revenue from people at risk of or experiencing problem gambling has likely has increased over the years.

Recommendations include:

Automated alerts to people who gamble to make them aware of their risky behavior.
Rewards for safer gambling practices, instead of total spent gambling.
Restricted ATM access and/or amounts that can be withdrawn.
Mandatory limit setting and/or incentivizing voluntary use of limit setting.
Third party initiation of self-exclusion.

Also see Massachusetts Gaming Commission's two-page report snapshot.

Citation: SEIGMA Research Team. (2024). Social and Economic Impacts of Casino Introduction to Massachusetts. Amherst, MA: School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Available from: https://massgaming.com/wp-content/uploads/Social-and-Economic-Impacts-of-Casino-Introduction-to-Massachusetts_Report.pdf

Keywords: casino introduction ; casinos ; crime ; economic impacts ; family impacts ; gambling attitudes ; health impacts ; prevalence ; social impacts ; suicide

Topics: Comorbidities ; Crime and Deviance ; Family and Friends ; Gambling Cognitions ; Gambling Related Harms ; Suicide ; Venue/Casino

Conceptual Framework Factors: Exposure - Gambling Setting ; Environment - Social and Economic Impacts ; Psychological - Comorbid Disorders ; Cultural - Socio-cultural Attitudes ; Gambling Environment ; Social - Deviance

Geographic Coverage: United States of America, Massachusetts

Source: Massachusetts Gaming Commission

Source Type: Academic

Study Funding:

This study was funded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.