NCJ Number
190484
Journal
Crime & Delinquency Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 610-640
Date Published
October 2001
Length
31 pages
Annotation
This study examined the connection between riverboat gambling and crime in two Indiana towns.
Abstract
Despite the proliferation of riverboat gambling, few studies have rigorously investigated a link between riverboat gambling and crime. Literature regarding routine activities theory and resort and traditional casino tourism suggested that offenses may increase with the enhanced opportunities for crime provided by the influx of gamblers. Focusing on two Indiana communities, the study explored the connection by examining via interrupted time series analyses index offenses and simple assaults over 286 weeks in Hammond, and driving under the influence, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and prostitution offenses over 57 months in Rising Sun. The casinos did not increase crime in Hammond but were associated with increases in aggravated assaults and thefts in Rising Sun. These somewhat attenuated effects on crime suggested the enhanced criminal opportunity created by riverboat casinos did not increase the overall frequency of individual offenses as might be expected from routine activities theory and related tourism literature. Figures, tables, references