This study examined the impact on crime associated with the expansion of casinos in U.S. counties from 1994 to 2012. It examined the impact on both host counties where the casinos are located and neighbouring counties. The researchers found that commercial and Indian casinos were associated with an increase in crime in host and neighbouring counties in the years immediately after their opening. The initial increase in crime was offset by a decrease in crime in host counties many years later. For neighbouring counties, there was no decrease in crime in later years associated with commercial casinos, but there was a decrease in crime associated with Indian casinos.
