Do Casinos Attract Criminals?

Abstract

This study examines trends in the number of criminally inadmissible persons who seek admission to Canada because of the opening of Casino Niagara. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the presence of a new Canadian casino increases the rate at which criminally inadmissible persons seek entry to Canada. The impact of the casino is assessed by examination of trends in total bridge crossings before and after the opening of the casino, trends in the total number of criminals denied entry to Canada, and trends in the proportion of criminals who have convictions for offenses related to organized crime. The rate of denials of entry to Canada on grounds of criminal inadmissibility rose faster than did the border traffic in general, but there was a decline in the proportion of those with prior records for organized crime-related offenses. The implications of these findings are presented.

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