In the past few years, Wisconsin's 11 tribal governments have set up slot machines and blackjack games at 17 locations in the state. The introduction of this casino gambling is associated with increasing crime rates, says the first study published on the statewide effects of such gambling on crime.

An authority on gambling issues, William Thompson of the University of Nevada - Las Vegas, examined the impact of casino openings in Wisconsin on crime rates from 1992 to 1994. He examined 14 counties with casinos and 13 non-casino counties adjacent to at least two other counties with casinos.

After correcting for other factors, he found that compared to the state as a whole, these areas experienced increased rates of major violent crimes such as murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault and major property offenses, burglary and larceny.

• Overall major crime rates in the affected counties were 6.7 percent higher than they would have been without casinos -- with burglary rates increasing by 13 percent.

• Arrest rates for lesser crimes were 12.2 percent higher -- with arrests rising for simple assault by 37.8 percent, theft by 28.1 percent, drunk driving by 13.9 percent and drug possession by 21.9 percent.

• Thus there was an average of 5,277 more major crimes and 17,100 lesser offenses in Wisconsin due to casino operations each year.

• Total cost of this increased criminal activity amounted to nearly $51 million a year, including victims' losses and police, prosecution and imprisonment costs.

Recently Indians in a number of states have opened casinos on tribal lands. After negotiating a compact with a state, a tribe can set up a gambling establishment even if the state doesn't otherwise permit legalized gambling.

Source: William N. Thompson et al., "Casinos and Crime in Wisconsin: What's the Connection?" Wisconsin Policy Research Institute Report, Vol. 9, No. 9, November 1996, Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, P.O. Box 487, Thiensville, WI 53092, (414) 241-0514.