As a society, we can't afford these casinos

Published Aug. 17, 2009, in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Regarding "We Told You So: Casino Gambling Is Doing More Harm Than Good" (Aug. 6 Perspectives): Bruce Barron is right to point out that Pennsylvania casinos are most likely to result in a net economic loss for Pittsburgh, other Pennsylvania cities and the state.

The best evidence shows casinos fail to bring economic growth. A study published in the American Journal of Economics and Sociology shows that, in 11 states, over a 14-year period, casino revenues have no positive impact on real per-capita income.

Further, in the current issue of The Journal of Economics, Ball State University professor Michael Hicks reports that low-paying jobs in slots parlors actually depress salaries in the local economy. These casinos make millions of dollars, but those dollars come out of the pockets of local people and are taken away from local businesses.

Chicago real estate developer and billionaire Neil Bluhm, owner of Pittsburgh's Rivers Casino, is also trying to build a casino in Philadelphia in the middle of a tight-knit, residential neighborhood on historic land.

Mr. Bluhm's casino is poised to wreck the fabric of the neighborhood, pave over archaeological discoveries and contribute to job loss and addiction in the city of Philadelphia, which needs none of this. The money made in the casino will line the pockets of Mr. Bluhm while the city suffers. And even those revenues are vulnerable to the next competing casino down the line.

We are calling on Mr. Bluhm to pull the plug on his Philadelphia project, and on Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia's Mayor Michael Nutter to work toward truly sustainable economic development, instead of predatory business that would undermine the city.

Daniel Hajdo

Volunteer, Casino-Free Philadelphia

Philadelphia

The writer is an adjunct professor of political science at Rowan University.