Gambling and small business crime deterrence: The illegal use of video poker machines by public bars and private social clubs in Pennsylvania

The purpose of this research is to expand upon the information gathered by the President's 1996 National Gambling Impact Study Commission regarding "stand-alone electronic gambling devices", endeavoring to discover the extent to which video poker machines (stand-alone electronic gambling devices) are being utilized by public bars and private social clubs to generate income through illegal gambling throughout the State of Pennsylvania, and focusing regionally in Lehigh County. Additionally, this study, utilizing the rational choice perspective of crime deterrence, examines the efforts of State law enforcement officials to prevent this illegal gambling enterprise.;To accomplish this, the research examines two different types of small businesses, public bars and private non-profit social clubs, in an attempt to determine: (1) what percentage of bars and clubs are utilizing video poker machines for illegal gambling; (2) how many video poker machines are currently employed and how much illegal revenue is being generated by these businesses; (3) to what extent are law enforcement officials enforcing the laws against the illegal use of video poker machines and are the laws being enforced equally between bars and clubs; (4) are the current sanctions for the illegal use of these machines providing an effective deterrent for these establishments; and if not, what would provide an effective deterrent for these establishments?;To obtain the information necessary for this study, this researcher examined the recorded liquor code violations of each liquor licensed establishment in the State of Pennsylvania from January 1996 through December 2000 and extensively interviewed a random sample of bar owners and social club trustees from Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, regarding their businesses' participation in the use of video poker machines.;The results solidly support the rational choice perspective of criminal behavior. For public bars and private social clubs throughout Pennsylvania and specifically in Lehigh County, the chances of being caught utilizing illegal video poker machines is extremely low, and the financial benefits obtained greatly outweigh the current State sanctions incurred if caught. Thus, these small businesses rationally choose to violate the Pennsylvania gambling laws.