Commentary: The facts about gambling expansion in Georgia from an academic perspective

Mike Griffin

In 2021, Professor John Kindt (former professor at The University of Illinois) and I were a part of hosting a gambling symposium at a downtown Atlanta hotel. In that meeting, Professor Kindt was able to present many facts regarding the detrimental impact of gambling in the United States. As we got to the question-and-answer time at the conclusion of the event, a legislator asked Professor Kindt if he could produce a one-page document that had data related to the impact that gambling expansion would have in the state of Georgia based on the facts of gambling in the U.S.

Professor Kindt agreed to the request and produced a document that showed how the expansion of gambling would impact the citizens of Georgia from an academic perspective. He put together resources based on economic, business, and legal studies at universities such as Emory University, Mercer University, The University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and other U.S. Universities. See this information here: John Kindt Georgia'sGambling.ABCs.pdf.

The information that Professor Kindt put together proves that things such as casinos and online gambling would increase addictions, bankruptcies, crime, sex trafficking, and suicides.

In a recent Special House Study Committee on Gaming at the State Capitol on Aug. 25, 2025, individuals lobbying in support of the gambling industry presented a lot of information that appeared to make gambling expansion seem like it would be a blessing and a benefit to Georgia. While we all agree that people have the right to project their opinions on certain things, it is better that we have data from an academic standpoint, not just merely from an industry perspective. Industry perspectives tend to overlook the detriments and focus more on what are the “perceived benefits.”

Information in this hearing showed just how manipulative advertising would be if more gambling expansion ever got on the ballot as a constitutional amendment for the people to vote on. Not only could the information be misleading, but the amount of money spent on the promotion of gambling could be as high as $250 for every dollar spent to oppose it.

This is why the Georgia legislature needs to protect our citizens from getting into this kind of situation. As a representative republic, legislators have a right and responsibility to keep dangerous things from getting on a ballot initiative.

I'm reminded over and over again about the fact that a number of years ago, State Representative Todd Jones declared that it was intellectually dishonest to talk about the benefits of gambling without talking about the detriments. He was a co-author of the mental health legislation that was passed that year in 2022.

With that being said, let’s look at the data Professor John Kindt has provided to show the dangers of gambling expansion on our society.

ADDICTIONS

Gambling addiction is now classified like opioid and drug addictions by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In the general population, gambling addiction is present among Caucasians (1.2%-2%); Hispanics (2%-3%); African-Americans (2%-4%); and Native Americans (2%-6%).

Years ago, Jesse Jackson, in his Chicago speech on Martin Luther King Day, called gambling “the new chains of slavery.” You see, youths and kids are now exposed to gambling, and they are already showing double these gambling addiction percentage rates.

Here in Georgia ,casinos and online sports gambling would increase these addiction rates again by at least another 110%. Each new addicted gambler will cost the taxpayers $28,000 to $104,000 per year, and like drug addicts, each gambling addicts negatively impacts the lives of 7 to 17 additional people.

We have to understand that around new gambling facilities the gambling addiction rates can double. Therefore, in Georgia, we could have 17,000 to 33,000 new addicted gamblers, costing Georgia taxpayers as much as $476 million to $3.43 billion. As you can see, Georgia does not need this!

BANKRUPTCIES & LOST JOBS

As gamblers lose their money, new gambling facilities increase personal, professional, and business bankruptcies by 18% to 42%. Gambling-addicted employees have embezzled from numerous companies and banks, throwing non-gambling employees out of work.

Every casino averages about 700-1,000 video gambling machines (VGMs). Each gambling machine cannibalizes approximately $45,000 per year out of the consumer economy, which results in $150,000 in “lost consumer spending” or one lost job in the consumer economy per year per video gambling machine.

Current Georgia gambling proposals would initially create several hundred construction jobs and then hundreds of continuing maintenance and management jobs, but the consumer economy could net 5,500 to 15,700 lost jobs every year.

CRIME

Casinos and gambling facilities make up to 90% of their profits from video gambling machines. The medical community calls these VGMs the “crack cocaine” for hooking new addicted gamblers. Addicted gamblers, and another 6% to 8% “problem gamblers,” lose substantial amounts of money and then resort to crime to get money to continue gambling. Problem gamblers have even been known to become interstate serial killers to get gambling money.

Data has shown that within 50 miles of gambling facilities, crime increases as much as 9% every year. Also, problem gamblers are 4.3% to 7.6% more likely to commit crimes.

After one Illinois casino opened, a mother lost her life savings and then killed her child to collect the child’s life insurance. The mother again lost her money and killed her other child for $200,000 insurance.

CHILDREN TARGETED BY ONLINE GAMES & SPORTS GAMBLING

Online gambling promoters have been known to brag that Internet gambling (including sports gambling) is the “Killer APP” of the Internet.

Despite public protests, in Australia the online gambling establishment has children starting to gamble at age 11. In the U.K., there are 55,000 problem gamblers who are under 16 years old, and 28 million U.K. kids were illegally targeted by gambling companies, resulting in a 15% increase in problem gambling in kids.

And, in the U.S., the Campaign for Gambling-Free Kids reports that “more than half of 16-year-olds have gambling apps on their smartphones.” U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, in 2023 supported legislation to help protect kids from online predatory gambling.

SEX TRAFFICKING & PROSTITUTION OF ADULTS AND KIDS

When women and kids lose money as new addicted gamblers or problem gamblers, they become newly vulnerable to sex trafficking and prostitution. For example, Atlantic City has large sex trafficking problems—sparking public demonstrations against the government’s “prostitution environment.” Because of this fact, statistically, Georgia’s current prostitution problems could be expected to increase as much as 35% to 75%.

SUICIDES

It has been seen that one-third of addicted gamblers may attempt suicide. Under current Georgia gambling proposals, Georgia can anticipate increased suicide attempts by at least 5,750 newly addicted adults and children. Medical experts typically note that gambling addiction has only three results: (1) jail, (2) suicide, or (3) Gamblers Anonymous. With this being known, it is important to note that almost all “Councils on Problem Gambling” are controlled & funded by the gambling companies.

SAVINGS & SPENDING ON NECESSITIES OF LIFE

Around a casino or large gambling facility, there is typically 10% less spending on food, 25%  less spending on clothing, and 37% less money in savings accounts. It is interesting that there are people who would rather gamble than feed their children.

The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists multiple socioeconomic costs. Problem gamblers can regularly engage in child abuse, spousal abuse, and crime, culminating in increased divorce rates.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC COSTS TO TAXPAYERS AND GOVERNMENTS

It is well-established that for every $1 in new revenue from gambling, the costs to taxpayers, DHS agencies, and governments is at least $3 to $5--because gambling creates no new product and is profitable only via constant increases in human misery.

Problem gamblers and addicted gamblers contribute as much as 67% to 90% of the dollars that commercialized gambling makes. Because of these facts, Georgia’s DHS will require up to $500 million just to begin addressing the costs of gambling in our state.

There is no doubt from this data before us that when more gambling is legalized, it violates the principle of governmental ministry by permitting laws that encourage its citizens to participate in the gambling industry.

We need to be reminded that the Bible says in Romans 13:4, “For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”

We must understand that government-sanctioned gambling, on the other hand, encourages that which is evil and perverts the purpose for which God intended government. This is precisely what predatory gambling is. It is state-sponsored gambling that is based on the pretext that we are allowing and encouraging something evil, but it is being “sanctified” and “regulated” because it is supposedly being done for good (for example: raising tax revenue to help the children). This is why we, as citizens, must not allow more of this activity to happen in Georgia!

Click here to read Professor John Kindt’s ABC’s of Gambling. Also, here is more information to help educate your church on the subject of gambling: Gambling Awareness 2025 - Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

Information Sources from Professor Kindt: