The Catalan parliament continues to discuss the Hard Rock casino plans over ten years after the project was announced. Parties are yet to reach a consensus on the matter, the Catalan News reported.

The Hard Rock casino project envisions the construction of a casino-hotel complex in Vila-seca and Salou, Tarragona, in the vicinity of the PortAventura amusement park. However, the property has been a point of contention for over a decade, causing delays in its development.

The initial mega project would have had six theme parks, covering 445 hectares in total. Originally called Barcelona World, the project was eventually picked by Hard Rock, which scaled it down. Its current iteration would feature a casino, two hotels, a large swimming pool, a shopping area and a big conference center.

However, Hard Rock’s project now still waiting for the approval of a new Urban Development Plan because the Catalan High Court annulled the first one in 2020.

Political Parties Are in Disagreement

Hard Rock’s project continues to be intensely discussed by political parties in the Catalan parliament. The casino plans have the support of the Socialists, the pro-independence Junts, the far-right Vox and the liberal Ciudadanos. In the meantime, the pro-independence Esquerra Republicana, far-left CUP, and left-wing Comuns Sumar are firmly opposed to the resort.

Comuns Sumar, for example, rejected the 2024 budget because its members believed that it would have advanced the Hard Rock project, despite the government claiming otherwise. As a result, Catalan president Pere Aragonès had to call for a snap election on May 12.

Raquel Sans, the main candidate for Esquerra Republicana, accused her political opponents of using Hard Rock as an excuse to push their agenda and end the legislature. According to her, these people chose their own benefits over those of the public.

Far-right Vox’s Sergio Macián added that separatism continues to prevent the economic development of Catalonia.

However, opponents of the project claim that it must be stopped because it is not entirely legal. According to them, proceeding with the project would be an injustice. Others have pointed out that the Hard Rock casino-hotel would not be environmentally sustainable.

Because of that, opposed parties believe that changes would be needed before Hard Rock receives planning permission.

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A recent study conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst reveals that the introduction of casinos in Massachusetts has not led to a surge in problem gambling, contrary to some expectations. 

UMass Research Shows Slight Decrease in Problem Gambling

The findings, presented to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, indicate that despite the proliferation of gambling opportunities, the prevalence of problem gambling remained relatively stable.

The study, led by Rachel Volberg, a research professor at UMass Amherst, compared data collected before and after the opening of three major casinos in the state. Surprisingly, the results showed that the rate of problem gambling actually decreased slightly from 2% in 2013 to 1.4% in 2021 among the adult population aged 18 and over.

Volberg highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on gambling behavior, noting that restrictions imposed during the pandemic reduced overall gambling activity. However, even before the pandemic, the study found no significant increase in problem gambling despite the establishment of new casinos.

Volberg explained that they had hypothesized that exposure to casinos in neighboring Connecticut might mitigate any potential rise in problem gambling. She added that it was reassuring to see their hypothesis confirmed.

At-Risk Gamblers’ Concerns Highlighted in UMass Study

The study also revealed a decline in out-of-state casino patronage, with only 10.2% of respondents in 2021 reporting gambling outside of Massachusetts, compared to 21.5% in 2013. This suggests that the casinos succeeded in keeping more gambling revenue within the state, as intended by the 2011 Expanded Gaming Act.

However, there are concerns regarding the financial impact on at-risk gamblers, who show signs of potential gambling problems but are not yet classified as problem gamblers. The study noted that the proportion of gambling expenditures coming from at-risk gamblers increased significantly, highlighting the need for early intervention and support mechanisms.

Jordan Maynard, interim chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about available resources for problem gambling. The study found a significant gap in public awareness of support services, indicating a need for improved outreach efforts.

Despite the overall stable rates of problem gambling, public perception of the gambling industry in Massachusetts has shifted. More residents now believe that gambling is too widely available, with 67.5% expressing this concern in 2021 compared to just 15.6% in 2013.

The study, funded by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, surveyed over 6,000 adults to provide a comprehensive analysis of gambling trends in the state. While the findings offer reassurance regarding problem gambling rates, they also underscore the importance of continued monitoring and proactive measures to address potential harms associated with gambling.

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