Chumash casino 'helping economy's performance'

2008-03-04 11:32:02

California's Chumash Casino Resort is helping the local economy through job creation and tax, it has been revealed.

Researchers from California Economic Forecast (CEF) found Santa Barbara County received a cut of the $35 million tax revenues generated between 2001 and 2006, according to the Daily Nexus.

The region also benefited from new jobs, with 703 positions opening up indirectly because of the tribal casino.

News of Chumash casino's impact come too late to be used by councilors from Manchester, UK, who lost the fight to build a supercasino because the government felt there were better ways of regenerating parts of the city.

However, the research does not go far enough for people to decide conclusively whether the casino benefits the local community more than it hinders it, according to Mats Olson, spokesman for CEF.

"All you can really say is that there were positive economic impacts from job creation and tax receipts, but you can't necessarily say that it's a net benefit or a good thing," he commented.