Michael Valeri: Justifying the misery of the gambler

From the article headline, “Report: Casinos’ impact mostly positive” in the Oct. 28 issue of the Greenfield Recorder, one would think most was positive. Upon reading the article, most does not seem positive. In fact, most findings in the report are negative.

The report states local impacts include more leisure dollars being spent at the casino and not at other local businesses, only 39% of casino workers earning a living wage, an an increase in traffic, crime and collisions involving impaired drivers around the casino.

Statewide, the report states, overall casino patronage appears to be declining and attitudes toward gambling is growing negative.

Lastly, and really, most shocking, the report reveals the percentage of casino revenues derived from problem and at-risk gamblers rose from 74% in 2013-2014 to 90% in 2021-2022!

The only positive point of the article had to do with the jobs generated through the construction of the casino, and the state tax revenue from gambling taxes.

So, we have justified all the misery we bring to the gambler, their family, and the local economy because the state makes money.

Doesn’t seem right. The headline is sure wrong.

Michael Valeri

Orange