When it comes to Canada, the country often finds itself compared with America - something which is perhaps not that surprising given the close proximity of the two nations, but also something that Canadians often seem to resent. However when it comes to the relaxation of gambling legislation and the effects that this is likely to have on Canadian cities, this comparison is again likely to be made.
The most famous single example of the effect of light gambling legislation on a U.S. state would be that of Nevada, home to Las Vegas. This city was built for the express purpose of gambling and entertainment, and it has had a massive effect on Nevada, bringing millions of tourists to a part of America that they would otherwise have been unlikely to focus on. It has also contributed significantly in terms of the creation of jobs and thus the boosting of the economy in that state - and these are the sorts of effects that Canada would want to replicate. It should be noted that, another consistent effect of the relaxation of gambling laws in U.S. states has been a rise in crime, of which Las Vegas, which was notoriously built with money from organised crime, is no exception. This would probably be mitigated in Canada by the rise of online casino Canada and other internet gambling options, instead of real-life ones.
Another U.S. state which has famously loosened its gambling laws is New Jersey, where you can find Atlantic City. Here again there have been benefits to the local economy, thanks to the creation of more than forty thousand local jobs, but it is considered that the benefits have not spread throughout the city as a whole, in the way that they have in Las Vegas.
