Publication Date

2002

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Glenn, Gary Dean, 1941-

Degree Name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Legacy Department

Department of Political Science

LCSH

Gambling on river boats--Middle West; Gambling on Indian reservations--Middle West; Public administration--Middle West--Attitudes; Executives--Middle West--Attitudes

Abstract

Most scholars examining the effects of legalized casino gambling on municipalities, either riverboat or Native-American, contend that the social costs and negative economic consequences of gaming outweigh any financial or economic benefits that host communities reap. This research project challenges this prevailing paradigm and asserts that legalized casino gaming has been and will continue to be a viable economic development initiative for the communities examined here and others possessing similar economic and demographic conditions. This project gauges the opinions of professional public administrators and economic development professionals who have been largely neglected by the majority of scholars examining this subject. Their insight is especially valuable because they are among the most qualified to comment upon the economic development environment goals of their respective communities and level of citizen support for this controversial industry. Scores of local government officials, local business executives, and civic leaders in 34 communities in seven midwestern states were surveyed and interviewed to educe opinions regarding the effects that legalized gaming has had upon their respective communities. The vast majority of respondents overwhelmingly contend that legalized gaming is an industry that has produced tremendous amounts of revenue, created thousands of jobs, spurred secondary development, bolstered existing businesses, and allowed the their communities to undertake large-scale projects that would formerly have been fiscally impossible.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages [174]-181)

Extent

196 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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