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Survey: Rhode Island Adults Take Over 1.6 Million Casino Trips18 July 2002LAS VEGAS--(Press Release)-- A new survey reveals insight into the preferences and characteristics of casino gamblers nationally and includes specific data on Rhode Island and the Providence/New Bedford DMA (Designated Market Area). According to Profile of the American Casino Gambler: Harrah's Survey 2002, approximately 241,000 Rhode Island adults (age 21 or older) gambled at a casino in 2001. Rhode Island casino players took a total of 1,662,000 casino trips last year or an average of 6.9 visits per gambler. The Harrah's Survey is based on two nationwide studies commissioned for Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET): the Roper Reports, conducted by Roper ASW; and the U.S. Gaming Panel, conducted by the NFO WorldGroup, Inc. The complete survey is posted online at Harrah's website. The top casino destinations for Rhode Island gamblers were the Connecticut Indian casinos, which captured 90 percent of all casino trips. The Providence/New Bedford DMA generated 335,000 casino gamblers in 2001. Providence/New Bedford-area players made a total of 2,008,000 casino trips, or an average of six annual visits. The casino gambling participation rate (percent of adult population that gambled in a casino in 2001) was 32.2 percent in Rhode Island and 33.2 percent for Providence/New Bedford. The national participation rate was 27 percent. "The participation rates in Rhode Island and the Providence area indicate that there is a strong demand for casino gambling among local residents, despite a lack of in-state places to play," said Gary Loveman, Harrah's president and chief operating officer. "There are significant gambling dollars being spent out-of-state by Rhode Island players. If Rhode Island chooses to expand casino gambling opportunities, it could generate needed tax revenues, jobs, and capital investment simply by re-capturing this spending." |