As long as a casino remains popular, it will make money. The recent resurgence in gambling has created more problems in America. In 1980 Tunica, Mississippi was known as "America's Ethiopia." Around 53% of the population lived in poverty. Everyone thought the answer to the community's problems would be to build a casino This did make new jobs for some people, but the price of land increased 10 times more. Property taxes increased dramatically as the property values increased.23 The only people who were reaping the benefits of the casino were the rich owners and the rich real estate developers. Lotteries also end up hurting the people who need help most. High school drop-outs and people with incomes under $20,000 make up the largest percentage of lottery players.24 In lotteries nationwide, the poor spend $572 per year on lottery tickets, while receiving only $80 in services from increased tax revenues. Meanwhile, wealthier people spend $26 per year on lottery tickets, while receiving as much or more than that in local aid. Even though state lotteries are supposed fundraisers to help people who need help, they generally hurt the poor and while helping the more fortunate. Local casinos always spell disaster for nearby restaurants. In Atlantic City, from 1977-1987, 101 out of 243 restaurants closed with the arrival of casinos. These nearby casinos offer free food to draw customers in. This very expensive proposition from the owners can be written off of their annual income tax. In 1991 alone, 234 million dollars wer...
