BOSTON - A crime analyst tapped by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission says Plainridge Park Casino has produced few significant increases in crimes in the area surrounding its location in Plainville.
The analysis by Christopher Bruce, a former member of the Danvers Police Department, covers the slots parlor's first six months of operation.
"It has produced some increases in traffic-related activity, the types of increases that you would expect with any major facility of that size and drawing that much traffic to the region," said Bruce, who has also worked for the Cambridge Police Department.
The slots parlor opened in June 2015 and has struggled as it has seen revenue decline during some months. The facility competes with Twin River casino in Rhode Island.
The traffic-related calls have occurred mainly in Plainville, a community close to the Massachusetts-Rhode Island border and the home of Plainridge Park Casino. The traffic activity included complaints, collisions, disabled vehicles and suspicious vehicles, according to Bruce's analysis.
"But there's been no indication so far that it's caused an increase in any crimes or other detrimental social harms in the area," Bruce added.
Some law enforcement agencies have recorded drunk driving increases, but the data is "inconsistent" and the issue needs "further study," his presentation said.
Bruce's presentation also noted a major increase in credit card fraud, but added there's "no specific evidence of Plainridge Park involvement."
"A large increase in burglary in North Attleborough was attributed to two local serial offenders (both heroin addicts) with no casino-related motives," Bruce's report said.
Plainville Police Chief James Alford appeared with Bruce before the Gaming Commission during a meeting in Boston.
Alford said there have been reports of drunk drivers who have left the slots parlor and attempted to drive.
"It would be no different if it was any other facility where you had alcohol," he said.
"As a whole, I'm not seeing this big impact and I'm not seeing a big impact on any impact on surrounding neighborhoods, or retail establishments along Route 1," Alford continued, adding that "so far so good" is the best characterization.
Bruce used data from Plainville, Attleboro, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Wrentham, and the State Police. Foxborough, a surrounding community, declined to provide data, he said, citing security concerns.
A deeper crime analysis is expected to be released in fall 2016, according to Bruce.
The 2011 expanded gambling law authorized one slots parlor license and up to three casinos in Massachusetts. The Gaming Commission has awarded licenses to MGM in Springfield and Wynn Resorts in Everett, north of Boston, and both are seeking to open in 2018.
The Mashpee Wampanoags are on a separate track, with oversight at the federal level. They're hoping to open a tribal casino in Taunton in 2017.