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

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.

Paulette J. O’Gilvie