Washington Post

Dear Editor,

Your recent editorial, “Keep slots away from Rosecroft” (8/12), levels false criticism at the U.S. commercial casino industry. If the claims made in the article were true, the 22 states with commercial casinos would be centers of depravity instead of homes to successful communities that see casinos as valuable community partners.

From Shreveport, La. to Davenport, Iowa countless first-hand accounts from residents repeatedly affirm casinos as beneficial to the region. In fact, an American Gaming Association survey shows that a significant majority (64 percent) of residents in casino communities say they have a positive impact.

That should not come as a surprise; few sectors of the national economy require such considerable capital expenditures, are as labor intensive, generate as many U.S.-based jobs, and are as supportive of as many outside vendors and suppliers. We employ more than 340,000 people who, in 2010, earned more than $13 billion in wages and benefits.

And despite your editorial’s claims that casinos are a tax on the poor, a 2011 AGA poll found that the demographic profile of U.S. casino visitors is similar to that of the U.S. population.

In reality, there is no evidence to back the claims of the social ills your editorial purports.

Sincerely,

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr.

President and CEO

American Gaming Association