Have Video Gaming Revenues led to an Increase in Municipal Services in Illinois?

In 2009, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Video Gaming Act, the largest gambling expansion in the state’s history. That expansion allowed locations within Illinois to have five Video Gaming Terminals (VGT) within their business, similar to the slot machines previously only seen at state casinos. These terminals arrived under much scrutiny, as scholars and citizens alike were concerned with the social negatives attached to gambling facilities. Previous research points out many of the societal connotations that comes along with Video Gaming such as negative externalities associated with bankruptcy and addiction, but has yet to analyze the impact on the municipalities that receive 5% of the losses wagered on each terminal. This writing shows that video gaming has not led to an increase in municipal services through an expansion in capital projects, services provided, special events, and increased village staff based on interviews with municipal finance staff. Earmarks for addiction services programs and an increased police presence in areas with a high density of video gaming establishments are suggested as an alternative to the current municipal revenue allocation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Public Administration

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Public Administration

Year

2017

Author dc:creator

• Dudzinski, Christopher

Contributors dc:contributor

• Natalia Ermasova, Ph.D.
• Mary D. Bruce, Ph.D.
• Cheryl Hague, M.A.

• Video Gaming Act
• Illinois
• Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Repository record dc:identifier

https://opus.govst.edu/theses/110

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.govst.edu:theses-1112