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A partial test of the impact of a casino on neighborhood crime

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Abstract

Ninety-six months of crime incident data were examined to determine the extent to which crime counts changed within the Philadelphia neighborhood of Fishtown after the opening of a new casino. Count modeling regression results indicate that the operation of the casino had no significant effect on violent street felonies, vehicle crime, drug crime or residential burglary in the surrounding community. Weighted displacement quotient analyses suggest that the operation of the casino may be associated with an increase in vehicle crime in the area surrounding the casino neighborhood, indicative of crime displacement. Drug and residential burglary offenses in the area surrounding the casino neighborhood decreased after the casino opened, suggestive of a diffusion of benefits possibly tied to a change in local police patrols. Net of unexamined police patrol changes and casino opening simultaneity effects, the current study is unable to identify a neighborhood level effect of the casino on crime. Additional research is necessary to examine localized effects of casinos on various offenses.

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Notes

  1. Accessible localities were those ‘ … immediately adjacent to the City or at intersections of major non-toll arterial roads to New York and Philadelphia up to a distance of 30 miles …’ (Friedman et al, 1989, pp. 616–617).

  2. Municipalities include Sioux City, IA; St. Joseph, MO; St. Louis City, MO; St. Louis County, MO; Biloxi, MS; Alton, IL; Peoria, IL and East Peoria, IL (Stitt et al, 2003).

  3. Casino hotspots are high crime areas, identified by a kernel density estimation analysis, to be within 1000 feet of a casino (Barthe and Stitt, 2009a).

  4. It may be difficult to tell who walked from the parking lot versus those who arrive by walking from the surrounding community.

  5. ‘RAMP was created by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to help licensees and their employees serve alcohol responsibly’. It teaches employees how to identify those under the legal drinking age, those visibly intoxicated and suspend drinking service as necessary (Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, 2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program in Criminology and Justice Studies, Drexel University, Philadelphia, 19104, PA, USA

    Lallen T Johnson

  2. Department of Criminal Justice, Temple University, Gladfelter Hall, 5th Floor, 1115 Polett Walk, Philadelphia, 19122, PA, USA

    Jerry H Ratcliffe

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  1. Lallen T Johnson
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  2. Jerry H Ratcliffe
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Correspondence to Lallen T Johnson.

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Johnson, L., Ratcliffe, J. A partial test of the impact of a casino on neighborhood crime. Secur J 30, 437–453 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/sj.2014.28

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