A 50-page study to determine the causal relation between crime in the area of Plainville, Massachusetts and the casino the town hosts, Plainridge Park, concluded very little connection.
The study, entitled “Public Safety Impact Report” was conducted for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC). It acknowledged that crime has risen since the casino opened, but that it was “commensurate” with facilities of a similar size such as a mall or a cinema complex.
The study, entitled looked at police and other public safety reports for the towns of Plainville, Attleboro, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Wrentham and state police from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, which coincided with the first year of the casino’s operation.
Christopher Bruce, a crime specialist and consultant for the commission, told the panel that the casino generated more calls for accidents, collisions and traffic-related issues. There was also a rise in credit card fraud, identity theft and con games that might be connected to the casino being there, he said.
Bruce said, “In the first year of operation at Plainridge Park Casino, analysis indicates that most changes in public safety data are proportional with non-gambling facilities of similar size.” He added, “I hope this public safety analysis continues to provide important information that local police departments will deem helpful and can utilize to assist with the development of effective data-driven strategies.”
MGC Chairman Steven Crosby commented on the report: “Our comprehensive Research Agenda is based on the proposition that we assess the impact of casinos on facts and not anecdotes or prejudice. This public safety report is an import element of that fact-based analysis. Naturally, we are pleased that to this point there has been virtually no negative impact on crime rates due to the casino.”
The commission plans to fund such studies on an annual basis.
The slots parlor is the first of four casinos that are authorized by the gaming expansion act of 2011. At build-out there will be three resort casinos and the slots parlor. The $950 million MGM Springfield and $2.1 billion Wynn Boston Harbor are under construction. MGM is scheduled to open in 2018 and Wynn in 2019.
