 Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter! Related Links
Related News
|
Gaming News
Massachusetts Gaming Commission examines public safety report for Plainridge Park1 March 2018(PRESS RELEASE) -- On 1 March 2018 during a public meeting, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) released its second Public Safety Impact Report analyzing changes in police data after the first two years of operation at Plainridge Park Casino (PPC). The study concludes that the number of crimes and calls for service at PPC and in its host community of Plainville is commensurate with non-gambling facilities of similar size and number of visitors. As for the surrounding communities (including six towns), the totality of evidence shows little impact on public safety or calls for service. As mandated by the Legislature, MGC is carrying out an expansive and groundbreaking research agenda to understand the social and economic impacts of gambling in the Commonwealth. As part of this overall effort, the Commission is specifically studying the relationship between gambling and levels of crime. This two-year analysis compares recent data to a baseline analysis conducted before the opening of Plainridge Park Casino. MGC consultant and crime analyst Christopher Bruce conducted this public safety research and analysis. Mr. Bruce collected data from the records management systems of Plainville, Attleboro, Foxborough, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Wrentham and Massachusetts State Police since 2010. The analysis compares the period of 1 July 2015 through 30 June 2017 (two years post-casino) to the same periods of previous years. The study includes both crimes and non-crime calls for service. The two-year analysis continues to indicate that incidents occurring at PPC are proportionate with expected totals at similar facilities that draw a significant number of people, have a large parking area, offer retail, entertainment and dining options, and serve alcohol. The types of calls for service to increase are those highly correlated with the numbers of cars and visitors to a community, such as traffic issues and reports of lost property and suspicious activity. The analysis showed that overall crime was down in the communities, but there were variations across communities and across crime categories within individual communities. Christopher Bruce said, "Any significant increases were analyzed in more detail with both quantitative and qualitative data. Rarely was I able to establish a casino relationship, and the general sense from the participating police agencies were that they did not feel that Plainridge Park Casino had contributed significantly to crime or calls for service." MGC Commissioner Gayle Cameron noted, "This important research would not be possible without the commitment and cooperation from local police departments and the Massachusetts State Police. I applaud their ongoing support of this initiative and hope it continues to provide participating police agencies with valuable insight. We look forward to resuming this work and expanding our focus to Western Massachusetts in anticipation of the opening of MGM Springfield." A summary of findings from MGC's second Public Safety Impact Report:
|