Study Finds Gambling Expansion Wouldn't Produce Major Impact
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) - As lawmakers continue to debate a possible expansion of gambling in Florida; a major study has found that a gambling expansion wouldn't have much of an impact on the economy or Florida society.
The Spectrum Gaming Group looked at numerous scenarios of potential expansions and also addressed issues such as social costs. The report, dated Monday, appears to come to a similar conclusion as an earlier draft about overall economic impacts in a state as large as Florida.
"Overall, Spectrum believes that the expansion of casino gambling, whether on a small scale or very large scale, would have a moderately positive impact on the state economy,'' the study's conclusion says. "This is not to say that the economic impacts are necessarily small in their own right --- in fact, under some expansion scenarios the economic modeling shows gains of tens of thousands of direct, indirect and induced jobs --- but that the impacts are relative to Florida's large, statewide economy."
The study says an expansion would lead to an increase in state tax revenues, but that it would have "mild positive impacts" on local and statewide employment and wages.
"This is because casinos would not represent a large expansion of their local economies (at least, in larger Florida counties, which we assume would be the most likely sites for any future casino expansion),'' the study says. "Finally, the social costs of gambling should be kept in mind. However, the evidence suggests that social costs would not change dramatically, especially since gambling opportunities are already widespread across Florida."
The Senate Gaming Committee next week will take public input on the study.
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