I think you are kind of missing my argument (thanks for moving this to the right thread though I believe this discussion is integral to the development itself, as one will not happen without the other, as per Oxford's announcement..).
My main point is that there are right ways and a wrong ways to build a casino in a major city, and if you don't think Casino's can be harmful to society I suggest you do a little reading such as the following:
Taken from a recent municipal study in Columbus, Ohio (2005) on the effects of a potential Casino development there (sanctioned by pro-casino municipal government):
Source:
http://www.communityresearchpartners...%201-21-10.pdf
"The literature shows that the most clear social impact of casino development is the increase in problem gambling that results. It is estimated that 1.2% of U.S. adults are pathological gamblers at some point in their lifetime and that another 1.5% are problem gamblers.
The likelihood of being a pathological or problem gambler is double for a person living within 50 miles of a casino. (This would include most of the GTA if the Casino is located downtown)
2. Using the NORC cost figures, CRP estimates that if a casino were built in Columbus (a city of 797,434 people or <1/6 of the GTA), there may be over 22,000 new problem and pathological gamblers in Franklin County. The additional social cost to address this increase in problem and pathological gambling is estimated to be:
- $28 million annually in ongoing costs, stemming from job loss, unemployment and welfare benefits, poor physical and mental health, and gambling disorder treatments. These may translate into higher demands on the community’s human services systems.
- $223 million in total lifetime costs from one‐time or less frequently occurring events such as bankruptcies, arrests, imprisonment, and legal fees for divorce. These costs will be borne primarily by individuals and families, businesses, and government, but may also impact the human services system.
3. The literature is mixed on whether casinos increase crime in adjacent neighborhoods any more than other facilities that attract large numbers of visitors. There are also mixed research findings on the net positive or negative effect of casinos on the local economy, identifying both pros (more jobs) and cons (jobs are low paid).
4. In states where casino tax revenues have been directed back to the local communities where casinos are located, they have typically been used for economic and physical development projects, rather than for human services.
5.
Local government social service departments in Las Vegas and Atlantic City do not appear to have services targeted to address problem gambling. The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work has a Gambling Counseling Training Institute to train service providers in recognizing and treating problem gambling."
So by this estimate and adding the appropriate multiple to increase the population affected (6.875*22,000 people = 151,000 new problem or addicted gamblers in Toronto) at an estimated total lifetime cost of
minimum 1.533 Billion USD and an annual ongoing cost of 158M USD. I say minimum because Canada's social services are more comprehensive (include health and mental health outreach, expanded legal aid, etc..) than in the US.
Let's just make sure we are not dupped like the sweet, innocent Canadians we are into building this great looking development and picking up the pieces later. We can negotiate all the proper safeguards and compensation up front, as well as funding for things like transit and other infrastructure, and if everyone still wants to proceed, so be it.
And just so we are clear, I would like nothing more than to have the whole thing built as it looks in the beautiful renders.
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