An Iowa State professor recently appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss child care facilities in casinos.

“It was incredibly exciting,” said Corly Peterson, professor of human development and family studies.

Peterson was interviewed by CBS reporter Mark McQuin. The interview was broadcast live via satellite from KCCI in Des Moines early Monday morning.

A long-time advocate of quality child care, Peterson has conducted extensive research in the area of casino child care.

“I do not promote gambling and casinos as family entertainment,” Peterson said. “My goal is to raise public awareness about this issue. There hasn’t been much public debate on this issue. People haven’t stopped to think about implications of gambling on their youth.”

Peterson researched these implications on youth during a trip to Las Vegas.

“I was appalled at the number of children we saw in Las Vegas,” she said. “Casinos attract families with cheap food, cheap hotels and theme parks.”

After her return from Las Vegas Peterson made recommendations to Iowa casinos. “First off, we have to be careful about providing youth arcades and restaurants along with casinos,” Peterson said. “We also need to pay attention to blueprints and the actual design of casinos so that children aren’t allowed on the gaming floor.”

Since her trip, Peterson said she feels casinos in Las Vegas are backing off. “There has been a definite decrease in casino child care due to the problems of underage gambling, supervisory concerns and the loss of expected revenue by adults who bring children along to the casino.”

Peterson is concerned, however, about the rise of child care centers such as Kids Quest, which has built 10 centers throughout the nation, including one in Council Bluffs. This center is designed as a drop-off point for children of adults who are gambling.

“My main concern is that the center asked for waivers from state licensing requirements,” Peterson said.

“I do not think we should be lowering our standards in Iowa.”

One main problem is the money involved in casinos, Peterson said. “The major problem is that casino enterprises are very powerful and rise rapidly. There is big money involved in casinos.”

Although she has no more national appearances scheduled, Peterson may have several local speaking engagements.

She spoke last week at the gambling conference sponsored by the College of Family and Consumer Sciences about her research and recommendations.