Summary

MGM Springfield opened on 24 August 2018 in the midst of a dense, urban area with a historically higher‐thanaverage, but decreasing, crime rate. The large number of patrons drawn to the casino and their associated offenses and victimizations have made the facility the top location for crimes and calls for service in the region, although the overall effect on the region’s numbers is mild. In the first year after MGM opened, the most conclusive evidence of effects on public safety has been in certain calls for service related to traffic and visiting population numbers, such as traffic collisions, traffic complaints, and disabled vehicles. Even these are regionally localized and seem to be affecting the southern communities more than the northern ones. There have also been a couple of micro locations close to MGM—principally Union Station in Springfield, a gas station on the same block as MGM, and commercial areas across the bridges in West Springfield—that have seen increased activity. The region has also seen increases in thefts from vehicles, fraud, and purse snatchings, but any direct MGM association remains uncertain.