The Washington Post

Dear Editor:

Your recent editorial, “Las Vegas on the Potomac” misleads readers and mischaracterizes the commercial gaming industry.

In fact, there is a substantive positive correlation between casinos and regional economies. Study after study has shown casinos bring tangible, positive economic benefits to the communities that host them. One recent survey showed the economic activity supported by the commercial casino industry was roughly equivalent to 1 percent of the $14.5 trillion U.S. gross domestic product in 2010.

In addition, the industry directly paid nearly $16 billion in taxes in 2010.

The study shows casinos not only bring direct jobs and tax revenues, but indirect and induced impacts through purchases from supplier industries and employee spending in the broader economy. Based on direct, indirect and induced impacts, the commercial casino industry supported approximately $125 billion in spending and nearly 820,000 jobs in the U.S. economy in 2010.  And a substantial portion of this impact (two-thirds) is realized in the counties immediately surrounding a casino.

You are entitled to your opinion about casinos, but your readers deserve the facts in order to make an informed decision about whether or not a commercial casino is right for their community.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.
President and CEO
American Gaming Association