Economics Researcher Evaluates Slots

Dr. Calvin A. Kent, VP of Marshall University’s Center for Business and Economic Research, has given a lecture about the effects of slot machine and table game gambling on society. Last week he gave a speech on the MU graduate school campus that consisted of a concise briefing of a 4,000 page study on gambling.

He pointed out that this slot machine and table gaming study was not performed by him, he was just reviewing it – and that if you want to read another study to get you familiar with the effects of slot machine and table gambling, you should read the first chapter of the 1999 National Commission to investigate the Effects of Gambling.

According to the study, 30% of the population does not play slot machines or table games. Roughly 50% are “recreational” gamblers, and 10-15% are heavy gamblers. Although he said it was important to note that the heavy gamblers are mostly able to afford large losses at the slot machines or tables.

However, there is a small percentage of the population that cannot afford to play the slot machines or table games and yet they continue to play. He said this group is addicted to slot machines and gambling and cannot stop. He says that the majority of the social costs that come from gambling come from this group, roughly 90%. In contrast roughly 90% of the slot machine and gambling revenues come from those heavy gamblers, which of course include those with a pathological problem.



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