Table gaming is now a staple at both local racetracks, but it didn't get here without controversy and concern, as many local people were worried the games would bring an increase in crime.

Now, six months after the October grand openings at Mountaineer Casino and Wheeling Island Casino, NEWS9 is sorting through the numbers.

Wheeling Police Chief Kevin Gessler broke down the months of September 2007 through December 2007, when it comes to the number of police incidents in the area of Wheeling Island.

There were 70 incidents in September, down to 60 in October, 58 incidents in November, and 65 in December.

Gessler also showed NEWS9 crews the number of crimes that could be gambling-related, like petit larceny.

From 2006 to 2007, there were 26 reported cases and from 2007 to 2008, there were 25 cases.

Gessler said the bottom line is, "We're not seeing any great surge in any different area."

NEWS9 stopped at the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department next.

According to Sheriff Mike White, there was not much of a difference.

White showed NEWS9 crews the total number of police incidents in 2007.

Starting with September, there were 375 incidents, in October, 424, then down to 337 in November, and down again to 309 in December.

As for petit larcenies, in 2006, there were 149 reported cases, in 2007, the number went down to 131, and so far in 2008, there have been 44 reported cases.

"We've had robberies and things like that, but none of them have been directly related to table gaming,” said White. “A lot of our crimes are drug-related."

When it comes to enforcing the law in casinos, Gessler told NEWS9 there is a big change that's needed, and he wrote a letter to the West Virginia Lottery Commission to try to make it happen.

Gessler said as it stands right now, the law lists only the lottery commission and the state police as parties that can investigate casino crimes, like cheaters.

Gessler wants jurisdiction too.

"I think that needs to be law enforcement, specifically because they are in our own back yard,” said Gessler.

In the letter Gessler sent to the commission, he requested that local police be added to the list.

"I just want to make sure that this department not only has the resources, but also the authority to handle any type of incident that would occur within the community,” said Gessler.