economic substitution

Casino Foes Roll out Another Failed Theory

The “zero-sum game” argument – which states that the outcome for a casino’s host city depends on the casino’s ability to attract out-of-state tourists (“Bad Odds,” Regional Economic Roundup, June 11) – appears to be the most recent in a long line of failed social cost theories advanced by gaming opponents and has absolutely no basis in fact. There is no evidence that localities that include gaming in their economic mix could find themselves in trouble because of a saturation of casinos.

While the American Gaming Association does not take a position on gambling expansion, we do find it necessary to respond to “Gambling on gambling” (Editorial, June 15).

First, the references made in the editorial to studies by Earl Grinols, an avowed gaming opponent, are hollow since research conducted by Grinols has been judged faulty by some of his peers. One called it “sophistry.”