The Iowa Gaming Association (IGA) are committed to communicating accurate and timely information about gaming in Iowa and across the country. We have discovered that the most effective strategy for discussing this issue begins with sound statistical information based on thorough, independent research.
Catalyst for Economic Development
Iowa's 18 casino businesses have a significant impact on and add value to the state’s economy and entertainment industry.
- The industry's Buy Iowa First Program purchased over 87% in eligible products and services from Iowa-based companies, totaling nearly $240 million.
– Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Statement of Economic Impact on State of Iowa, 2011
- Casinos collectively pay over $331 million in gaming taxes to the state and over $392 million in state corporate taxes.
– Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Statement of Economic Impact on State of Iowa, 2011
- From their start 20 years ago, the 18 casinos have invested over $15 billion in their facilities.
- Iowa's commercial casinos are collectively the largest tourist attraction in the state continuing to draw more than 22 million visitors per year with up to 65% of the patrons are coming from out of the state.
- More than 83% of opinion leaders from jurisdictions with commercial gaming casinos said that casinos generated even more tax revenue than they had anticipated or lived up to their expectations. – AGA State of the States, 2012
- "With the revenue received, we've been able to funnel the money to needy areas. There have been spin- offs like restaurants and economic benefits. We're now on the map, and a destination place." (Quote from Midwest city council member.)
– Peter D. Hart Research and Associates, Community Leaders' Perceptions of Gaming Industry's Effects, 2005
- "A destination casino resort (like Iowa's 18 gaming properties), provides numerous jobs, restaurants, shopping and entertainment, as well as a number of games in a highly regulated setting."
Social Impact
Overwhelmingly, Americans continue to see the decision to gamble as an individual right. Belief in the importance of personal choice and freedom underlie Americans’ support for casino entertainment.
- In the broadest sense, elected officials and civic leaders are strikingly positive about the impact that casinos have had on their communities. They welcome the additional tax revenue, jobs, secondary economic development, and contributions to community and charitable organizations. At the same time, the negative effects predicted by casino opponents have largely failed to materialize. Taking everything into consideration, these public officials strongly endorse the decision to allow gaming in their communities — with the benefit of hindsight, fully 75 percent say they would vote to allow casinos if they could go back and do it all over again.
– Peter D. Hart Research and Associates, Community Leaders' Perceptions of Gaming Industry's Effects, (2005)
- 81% of Americans surveyed believe that casino gambling is acceptable for themselves or others.
- In 2011, U.S. commercial casinos employed almost 340,000 people and paid wages of almost $13 billion. Iowa had nearly 9,400 casino jobs with wages (includes tips and benefits) of almost $338 million. – AGA State of the States, 2011
- "Despite all the talk of increased crime and social costs, most of the communities [studied for the articles] reported no rise in murders, theft and other major crimes." Those communities included: St. Louis, St. Charles and East St. Louis, Mo.; Alton, Ill.; Altoona, Iowa; the Quad Cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Moline and Rock Island in Ill.
– Excerpt from a Wichita Eagle series on gaming (published July 15-19, 2007)
- Crimes against society; which includes drug offenses, gambling offenses, prostitution and weapons laws violations, declined nearly 17% from 2006 to 2009. This report allows individuals to compare a county with a casino to others without one, as well as the state as a whole. Research clearly shows the lack of correlation of crime to the proximity of a casino versus other factors that are the primary cause. – Iowa Department of Public Safety, Uniform Crime Report, 2006, 2009
Personal Finance
The vast majority of people who visit casinos are financially responsible.
Social Impact
Treatment for those who suffer compulsive behavior is essential.
- A small percentage of society is prone to compulsive behavior such as eating, shopping, credit card spending and gambling. Research clearly shows that more than 98 percent of the adult population can gamble responsibly.
- Researchers reported a pathological gambling rate of 0.6 percent and a problem gambling rate of 2.3 percent. These findings are consistent with other previously published large-scale prevalence studies. Researchers also found a high rate of concurrent psychiatric problems among disordered gamblers, as well as evidence that disordered gamblers often start gambling at an earlier age than those who can gamble responsibly.
– DSM-IV pathological gambling in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Psychological Medicine, 2008
- Prevalence rates of pathological gambling are not higher near a casino than they are far away from it.
– "Links between casino proximity and gambling participation, expenditure, and pathology." Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, June 2008
- Older recreational gamblers reported better physical and mental health functioning than older non-gamblers, despite similar levels of chronic illness.
– Gambling, health and age: Data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 2007
- In a comparison of the gambling practices of the elderly and younger gamblers in eight new casino jurisdictions, a study concluded that the elderly, "generally exercise better money management and experience proportionately fewer gambling problems than the general population."
– The National Institute of Justice, 2003
- The Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions, National Opinion Research Center and National Research Council have all measured the rate of pathological gambling to be less than two percent.
– National Gambling Impact Study Commission, page 4-6, 1999
- Analysis of over 4 years (1997–2001) of data regarding participants in the Iowa Gambling Treatment Program (IGTP) showed 74 percent of treatment completers, 49 percent of substantial treatment completers, and 36 percent of dropouts and referrals were abstaining from gambling at 6-month follow-up. The reduction in dollars lost to gambling was similar; 85 percent of treatment completers, 88 percent of substantial treatment completers, and 65 percent of others reduced their dollars lost per week.
– The Iowa Department of Public Health Gambling Treatment Services: Four Years of Evidence, Harvard medical School Division on Addictions, (2002)
– The Iowa Gambling Treatment Program: Treatment outcomes for a follow-up sample. Journal of Gambling Studies (2005)