COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A new study is raising eyebrows about the problems a casino could create in Central Ohio.
The benefits are clear:
• Penn National said they will begin offering full-time jobs to Central Ohioans in 2011.
• The developer has already hired a project manager and is eager to get the effort under way.
• But new numbers show the casino could create as many as 22,000 problem gamblers -- a dilemma some say no one is prepared to deal with.
The study, released Thursday by community research partners estimates that a Columbus casino could lead to more than 22,000 problem and pathological gamblers in Franklin County.
The study continues to note that the likelihood of problem gambling is double for anyone living within 50 miles of a casino.
The report estimates that 1.2 percent of adults are pathological gamblers at some point in their lifetime. According to the report, another 1.5 percent are problem gamblers.
Based on Franklin County's population, the report estimates that the cost to treat problem gambling could be $28 million annually in social costs stemming from job losses and health problems.
Issue 3 set aside 2 percent of the casino's gross tax revenues for gambling and substance abuse treatment and prevention.
A casino-sponsored study estimated that figure to be $12.6 million statewide.
Penn National executives have said the company works to address problem gambling at its facilities.
Central Ohio residents may be most impacted given that the three other casino host cities have out-of-state casinos nearby.
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