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, IIVIPACTS OF GAbIIN� A summary of the research revicwed on the subject of gaming aad the social, criminal, and economic iiupacts is provided in Attachmeut 5. While the dirxt revenue derived can eventually be assessed, the cost/benefit in terms of the quality of life of a community is less quantifiable. Often the broader question arises as to how to measure the social and economic impacts — on the local economy, the govemnient, the commuaity, th� family, or to the individuals? Police Captain Mike Callagy has pzcpazed a report summarizing gambiing's impacts on crime on a co*�+*�+»n�ty. (See Attachmcnt 1.) Social and Economic Imnacts In 1996 President Clinton authorized the National Gambling Impact Study Commission to conduct "a comprehensive legal and factual study of tho social and economic impacts of gambling in the Unitod States". Subsaquently, the Commission hired the National Opinion Research Ccnter (NORC� at the University of Chicago to compkte an extensive study of problem and pathological gambling. In the final report that was published in 1999, NORC estimated t]�at about 2.5 million adults are patlwlogical gamblers, another 3 million can be considered problem gamblers, and an additiona115 million are at risk for problem gambling. The report also stated the availability of a casino within 50 miles is associated with about double the prevalence of problem and pathological gamblers accordina to combined patron and telephone surveys completed. The report estimates tl�at pathological and problem gamblers in the United States cost society about "$5 billion per ycar and an additional $40 billion in lifetime costs for productivity reductions, social services, and creditor losses. However, these calculations are inadequate to capture the interfamilial costs of divorce and family disruption associa#ed with problem and pathological gambling." In 2001, additional research was cou�leted by Earl L. Grinols and David B. Mustard entitled Business Profitabiliry versus Social Profltability: Evaluating Industries with Fxternalities, The Case of Casinos assessed the social impacts of gaming. In addition to erime impacts, Crrinols sludied and reported on various social cosrs of gambling: • Business and Employment Costs: T'hese costs cover lost productivity on the job, lost time, and unemployment. A study showed between 21 and 36 percent of problem gamblcrs in treatinent have lost a job because of thcir gambling addiction (I.esieur,1998). • Banlauptcy: According to a stu,dy conducted by SMR Research Corporation {1997, P. 118), 20 percent of compulsive gamblers have filed for banlQUptcy as a result of gamUling losses. • Suicide: Lesieur (1992) concluded that problem and paihological gamblers have higher suicide rates than the gmeral public. Phillips ct al. (199'n found tbat Las Vegas deaths were 2.5 times more likely to be caused by suicide than in comparison to similar size cities. Studies also indicate that visitors to Atlantic City and Reao were respectively 1.75 and 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than tourists to non-gambliag azeas. • Illness: Siclaiess associated with gambliag can consist of depression, stress, severe headaches, anxiety, iaitability, intestinal disorders, and caniiovasc�ilar disorders. These costs caa be bome by thc gamblor or as resource eosts when seeldng treatment. • Social Seivice Costs: Unemploymern, therapy/trcatme�, and other social service costs. • Governmcatal Direct Regulatory Cost: Costs associated with regulating the gaming industry Page 5