"Firekeepers Casino had been open less than 24 hours last week before it could brag it made somebody rich. A Kalamazoo-area woman won $469,000.

Will this casino near Battle Creek yield a similar jackpot for this region? Don't count on it, but we will watch with interest.

Those are the positives, but supporters are overselling the casino's benefits. Gambling establishments like this make their money by taking wealth out of a community. Their social costs in terms of gambling and lost savings are high.

Detroit provides an example that shows the limitations here. Three popular casinos opened this decade, yet the city has remained in the grasp of a distressing downward spiral.

Like any industry, casinos have their purpose. But they are not economic engines. Firekeepers is creating jobs, but don't expect it alone to change the fortunes of south-central Michigan."

Get the Story:
Editorial :FireKeepers Casino: An economic bet (The Jackson Citizen Patriot 8/11)