HLT Undertakes First Ever Examination of Community Leaders’ Perceptions of Casino Development In Canada

January 26, 2016

Almost 71% of Community Leaders who are currently living with a casino in their community would accept a casino again today according to the recent Opinions of Community Leaders Study, a powerful endorsement of the benefits that gaming brings to cities across Canada.

Commissioned and distributed by the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), the study is the first investigation undertaken for the association of the perceptions of civic and community leaders who agreed to have casinos developed in their municipalities.

The study’s findings overwhelmingly confirm that gaming remains a vital contributor to Canadian society and that the communities that made the decision to build gaming facilities continue to profit from that choice:

• 85% of Community Leaders stated (by answering agree or strongly agree) that they believe the casino in their community is a good corporate citizen.
• 78% believe (by answering agree or strongly agree) the casino enhances the tourism appeal of the community, as well as offering a quality entertainment product (77%) and a safe environment (90%).
• 72% believe (by answering agree or strongly agree) the casino generates business for local suppliers of goods and services.

Most of the positive impacts from casino development were realized and conversely most of the anticipated negative impacts were not.