Whenever hard times hit, the answer always seems to be a casino. Here in New Jersey, the horse race tracks are lobbying to add slot machines to increase and keep business. Near Branson, Missouri, Rockaway Beach is hoping that a casino can be built there to help the depressed economy. Not everyone believes that casinos actually help the economy. Dr. John Kindt, a professor commerce and legal policy at the University of Illinois is one of those. Dr. Kindt reported a few years ago that according to his conservative statistics, that gamblers often spend 10 percent less on food, 25 percent less on clothing and they dip into their savings to pay for gambling.

Also expected is an increase in crime and more bankruptcies and people use money to gambling instead of paying their mortgage.

Kindt also reported that some businesses will not open near casinos and jobs can also be lost when a casino is built.

Certainly, some one is getting rich off casinos, but it is not always the local town.