Nichols, M.W. and B. Grant Stitt, David

Nichols, M.W. And B. Grant Stitt, David Giacopassi (1999) Casino gambling and bankruptcy in new United States casino jurisdictions. Journal of Socio-Economics: 247-261. This journal article examines personal bankruptcy filings and compares the data obtained to determine what effect, if any, casino gambling may have had on said filings. The authors used the bankruptcy filings from the jurisdictions having legalized casino gambling and compared these filing with bankruptcy filings from jurisdictions without legalized casino gambling.

According to the authors, personal bankruptcy filings increased in seven of the eight jurisdictions that had legal casino gambling and that in five of these seven there was a statistical significance. An interesting exception was noted by the article in that in one jurisdiction, Biloxi, Mississippi, which had legal casino gambling, personal bankruptcies actually decreased. In the article the authors examined the reasons behind this unusual development and argued that the unique nature of the community and the particular casino operation in Biloxi explains this variance.

In another interesting turn, it was noted in the article that the majority of the filings were Chapter 13 applications as opposed to Chapter 7 applications. Gross, Meir. (1998). Legal Gambling as a Strategy for Economic Development. Economic Development Quarterly: 203-213. With the increase in legalized gambling throughout the country in the form of lotteries, off track betting, and casinos, the author examined the effect that the availability of such gambling options has on economic development near the gambling sites and throughout the state legalizing such operations.

The author argues that gambling is a poor substitute for more sustainable economic development and that the legalization of gambling creates other problems that might counter-balance the benefits that gambling brings. The article suggests that governments should be careful in viewing gambling as a solution to a state's economic problems. Anderson, K. (2002, July 14,). Gambling. Retrieved on November 7, 2011 from Probe Ministries: [HIDDEN] This article written for dissemination on the internet is examined from a religious point-of-view.

The author argues strongly that gambling should be illegal for reasons closely related to the morality of the issue. Gambling as an activity is deemed inappropriate by the author from the beginning of the article and as the article continues it sets forth how gambling impacts negatively on the economy, the integrity of sports, and on communities. The author argues that gambling is bad social and political policy and that it is a form of surrender to the seedier elements in society.

Not surprisingly, it is argued that gambling, as an activity, is prohibited by the Bible and, therefore, should be illegal. Ogwyn, J.H. (2001). Legalized Gambling: Economic Boom or Social Bust? Tomorrow's World: 14-19 This article represents another attack by a religiously-based publication that argues that the collateral costs of gambling counter-balance the immediate economic benefits. The social attitudes that have allowed gambling to become more popular, both as a form of entertainment and as form of generating revenue are examined.

The author argues that the economic benefits are not sufficient to outweigh the social costs and suggests that society should re-examine its position on the expansion of legalized gambling. The basic argument of the article is that gambling is a black hole that absorbs revenue from other, more socially sound, economic activities. McCleary, R. And Kenneth S.Y. Chew, Vincent Merrill, Carol Napolitano. (2011). Does Legalized Gambling Elevate the Risk of Suicide? An analysis of U.S. Counties and Metropolitan Areas. Suicide and Life Threatening Behaviors: 209-221.

The focus of this article is to measure any possible link between suicide and active participation in legal casino gambling. The methodology includes the analysis of data involving suicide rates of individuals from a large number of metropolitan areas throughout the United States. The analysis compares the rates occurring both prior and subsequent to the legalization of casino gambling in the various metropolitan areas that comprised the focus of the study.

As a control mechanism, rates of death due to other causes such as accident, homicides, and natural causes are examined. The result of the study was that there was no statistically supportable correlation between the presence of legalized casinos and suicide rates. Basham, P. And Karen White (2002). Gambling with our Future? The Costs and Benefits of Legalized Gambling. Vancouver, BC. The Fraser Institute. This report out of Canada examines the full range of issues related to legalized gambling including the economic and social costs.

The authors recognized that there is increased public interest in the utilization of gambling as a revenue source but suggests that the benefits may not outweigh the costs. In the course of the article the authors also examine what role the various levels of government should play in not only monitoring but also in promoting the activity. Counterbalancing the economic and social concerns is addressed extensively but the authors also examine the freedom of choice issues as well.

The article suggests that the government should avoid assuming a paternalistic position in regard to the issue of legalized gambling. Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (2011). Uncertain Benefits, Hidden Costs: The Perils Of State-sponsored Gambling. Washington, D.C. Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. This article centers the discussion of legalized gambling and its effect on the tax policy of state and local governments.

It cautions such governmental agencies looking to ease their tax shortfalls that the introduction of legalized gambling such as casinos, lotteries, and off-track gambling may not offer any long-term solution. The report warns that as more and more states begin to legal gambling in one form or another that the marginal benefit is lessening. The report also warns about the considerable social costs involved in the operation of gambling itself and the collateral businesses that appear in and around the gambling industry.

It is suggested that states and other government agencies seriously consider other revenue generating avenues before enacting legislation authorizing legalized gambling. Stitt, G. (2001). Effects of Casino Gambling on Crime and Quality of Life in New Casino Jurisdictions, Final Report. U.S. Department of Justice. This article examines the issue of gambling from the perspective of how such activity affects local communities where gambling has been legalized.

The author and his research team surveyed communities throughout the country that have legalized gambling in an attempt to discern their opinions relative to the effect of gambling on their respective communities. The results of the study indicate the.