AboutPhillip Boucher Expertise Author of the book, "Slot Machines: Fun Machines or Tax Machines? A Technician Reveals the Truth About One-Armed Bandits", ISBN 1-55270-049-6 published by Productive Publications under the pen name Ian B. Williams. I can answer any question related to the concept, design, marketing, programming, operation, installation, repair, and maintenance of slot machines, video poker machines, and video lottery terminals, and their related equipment and machinery, within the regulated gaming industry. I WILL NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WHATSOEVER RELATED TO THE PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF GAMING MACHINES, INCLUDING QUESTIONS SUCH AS "I JUST BOUGHT A SLOT MACHINE AND IT DOESN'T WORK...". I can help dispel all the myths and misconceptions that have permeated the print and news media about slots over the years. I can also answer questions related to gambling addiction in general and slot machine addiction in particular. Each question will be answered truthfully, without bias, whether the answer is what the questioner wants to hear. I will not propagate the myth that there are secrets to winning or beating slots, because there are none. There are no methods or tricks or other such nonsense that a lot of people think there are. I`m sorry, but reality in regard to slot machines can be a big letdown! I won`t lead anyone on. Want to know the real truth? Just ask. I can also answer general questions related to casinos except for table games.
Experience I have over eleven years experience as a slot machine technician for two major North American casinos, one racetrack slot facility, and am a Certified Gaming Machine Repairperson. I am the author of, (writing as Ian B. Williams), "Slot Machines: Fun Machines or Tax Machines? A Technician Reveals the Truth About One-Armed Bandits", ISBN 1-55270-049-6 published by Productive Publications.
Question I realize that you are interested in gambling, but I would like an answer that is honest and unbiased. I live in the city of Brandon Manitoba. For the last few years there has been a great deal of debate concerning the pros and cons of Brandon getting a casino.
We all know that casinos can bring good and bad thing to a community.
My question is: Does a city benefit and profit from a casino or does the social costs gobble up any profits received.
These social costs can be numerous. Addiction, crime, divorce, abuse, etc. The cost of extra policing, social work, counseling. I could go on.
Are there any studies to show if a casino really help or hurt a cities fortunes?
Thank you: Ray
Answer Ray, the implementation of a casino into an area does bring many different aspects into play. The great majority of these are quite positive in the creation of jobs, the influx of funds to the local community, and the expanded entertainment value to potential patrons. A city benefits greatly from the from the profit a casino produces. On the other side, you do need extra policing for the gaming floor and more counselors for those who develop problem gambling issues. You will see a 95% positive attribute to putting a casino and a 5% negative factor.
Gambling addiction does increase and the crime, divorce, abuse, and death tolls to feed this addiction does increase. When building a casino a jurisdiction must also implement the architecture to provide honest and full information on the slot machines and table games they run. Advertising, brochures, and other such material must be created to dispel the myths and misconceptions of how slot machines and table games work. Full information that does this helps to reduce the number of people who develop gaming addiction.
However, other gambling venues such as horse racing, bingo, and lottery tickets have almost an equal amount of problems with addiction, abuse, divorce, fraud, etc to feed those addictions. But there are few studies about, let's say, severe bingo addiction, because casinos are the most prominent gaming venue. But bingo addicts have stolen money, committed suicide due to financial ruin, hurt family and friends, all for the thrill of the win.
In short, the positive aspects of building a casino far outweigh the negative aspects as long as the gaming public is educated in the way slot machines and table games are designed and operate. If a jurisdiction takes care to be open and honest on odds and probability without exposing security parametres, then the negative aspects of building a casino can be reduced right at the outset.
I hope this answers your question and helps you out. Thanks for asking. Phil
