Factors Associated with Recreational Gambling Frequency among Older Adults

Although a steady increase in the number of legalized gambling venues is occurring, few studies have empirically investigated the determinants of recreational gambling frequency among older adults. This investigation is based on a random-digit dialling sample of 290 residents 55 and older in the Las Vegas, Nevada, USA area whom self-reported that they currently gamble, had moved to Las Vegas after the age of 18, and were not problem or pathological gamblers. Using ordinal regression methods, we examined the impact upon gambling frequency of the following factors: age when moved to the community; considerations motivating in-migration to the community; and social interaction during gambling; as well as age; sex; income; and marital status. Results indicate that more frequent gamblers are single, male, 55–60 years old, gamble with friends, moved to Las Vegas to live after the age of 40 and for whom gambling was an important motivation for moving to Las Vegas.     

The “Locals” Market: An Emerging Gaming Segment

One of the newest customer segments to be identified by casino marketers is the “locals” market, or local resident gambler market. This study addresses the relative lack of empirical data on the “locals” market segment. The purposes of the study are to identify important reasons for visiting a particular casino; to identify which casinos respondents visit most often and why; to gain an understanding of such behavioral variables as gambling budget, time spent gambling, and favorite game; and to determine perceptions of different casinos in the Las Vegas area. The results may not generalize across all casino markets but they do provide insight into gamblers’ activities and behavior patterns. A telephone survey administered to residents of the Las Vegas metropolitan area yielded a sample of 637 participants who gamble for a least 15 minutes once every 2 months in a legalized gambling establishment. A customer satisfaction index based on casino performance on importance variables is presented.     

Youth and internet addiction in China

Overcoming compulsive gambling: A self‐help guide using cognitive behavioral techniques Alex Blaszczynski Robinson, London, 1998

Pathological Gambling: The Making of a Medical Problem Brian Castellani NY: State University of New York, Albany, 2000

The Age of Chance ‐ Gambling in western culture Gerda Reith Routledge, London &; New York, 1999

Super Casino: Inside the “New” Las Vegas Pete Early Bantam Books, 2000

The Real Las Vegas: Life Beyond the Strip David Littlejohn (ed.) Oxford University Press, 1999

24/7: Living it Up and Doubling Down in the New Las Vegas Andres Martinez Villard Books, 1999

Spielsucht. Ursachen und Therapie. (Pathological Gambling. Causes and Therapies) G. Meyer &; M. Bachmann Springer, Berlin, 2000     

Anticipated Regret,Risk Perception,or Both: Which is Most Likely Responsible for Our Intention to Gamble?

The current study investigated whether risk aversion or regret aversion could be related to a lower intention to gamble, and whether the type of gambling was a moderator of this relationship. The study took place in Macau, often called “the Las Vegas of East Asia.” A total of 373 Macau residents completed a questionnaire survey dealing with thirteen types of gambling. The results showed that risk perception and anticipated regret had a significant negative effect on the intention to gamble. This negative effect was domain-specific, varying with the type of gambling. Our findings indicated that neither risk aversion nor regret aversion can uniquely explain an individual’s risk-taking tendency consistently. Instead, which factor plays a greater role in lowering the intention to gamble—regret aversion, risk aversion, or both—is itself dependent on the type of gambling involved. The finding that not all gambles are created equal could be useful in gambling prevention and advertising appeal by providing a basis for understanding the role that cognitive and emotional factors play in different types of gambling.     

Epidemiological surveys of pathological gambling: Critique and suggestions for modification

Epidemiological studies of problem and pathological gambling were examined for their accuracy. Fundamental flaws and biases were found in these surveys. These include problems with survey instruments; nonresponses and refusal bias; the exclusion of institutionalized populations; exclusion of other groups; and failure to protect against denial on the part of the respondent when others are present near the telephone. Based on the issues discussed, one can reasonably be expected to assume that most epidemiological surveys seriously underestimate the extent of problem and pathological gambling. Alternative strategies for addressing these issues are discussed. These strategies include the use of field interviews, surveys of institutionalized populations, frequent player surveys and significant other surveys. The value and potential problems of these approaches are also discussed.This is a revision of a paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Risk and Gambling, Las Vegas, Nevada.The author would like to thank Rachel Volberg and Mark Dickerson as well as conference participants for their valuable suggestions on an earlier draft of this paper.     

Casino gambling in private school and adjudicated youngsters: A survey of practices and related variables

This study provides additional information about casino gambling practices in two adolescent samples. Specifically, 109 adolescents from a religious high school and 84 adolescents from a juvenile detention facility in Las Vegas, Nevada were surveyed. Of these, 71 (36.8%) were found to gamble regularly (58 males, 13 females, mean age 15.9 years). Results indicated many similarities among the two groups. The overall sample appeared to have a strong affinity for casino gambling, were diverse in their practices and reasons for gambling, reported a variety of emotional and physiological behaviors when gambling, occasionally experienced problems from casino gambling, and had parents who generally approved and were aware of their children's gambling behavior. The accessibility and family-oriented nature of many new casinos may be responsible for these effects.The authors thank Nicole Giangregorio and Ned C. Silver for their assistance. Portions of this paper were presented at the meeting of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Boulder, CO.     

Art & craft: Creative fiction and Las Vegas

This article provides a review of the contrasting ways in which modern essayists and novelists have reflected their experience of Las Vegas. The author suggests that while Las Vegas may serve as a convenient symbol for depression and alienation, contemporary fiction also celebrates Las Vegas for its life-enhancing impact. These themes are fused with surreal imagination in the novelKeno Runner by David Kranes.     

Native American casino gambling in Arizona: A case study of the Fort McDowell reservation

Since Congress passed the American Indian Gambling Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, there has been an explosion in the number of gambling casinos located on Native American reservations. It is estimated that in 1994 the total net revenue from 81 Native American casinos exceeded $2.3 billion dollars. As the number of Native American casinos grows along with the volume of gambling activity, opposition increases from states, the established gambling industry hurt by lost revenues, and groups with moral objections to gambling. This article reports on an effort to measure the economic impact of the Fort McDowell casino located near Phoenix, Arizona. The article discusses the casino's history and current operations. Next, it explains the use of an input-output model to compute the impact of casino's income and employment effects on the economy of Maricopa County. It is estimated that the casino is responsible for 2,483 new jobs, and an increase of approximately $80.35 million in regional output. Additional information is necessary to more accurately assess both the benefits and costs of the casino. Unfortunately, subsequent efforts to collect additional data have been unsuccessful. The conclusion discusses why, and raises questions regarding Native American gaming.An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 9th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, May 31–June 3, 1994, Las Vegas, Nevada. This research was funded by a FGIA grant from Arizona State University. The author expresses his appreciation to the referees who provided substantial guidance in improving the original paper. Any remaining errors are mine.     

Pathological gambling and criminal culpability: An analysis of forensic evaluations presented to German penal courts

In Germany penal courts and expert witnesses are being confronted with an increasing number of offenders claiming that their criminal behavior had been caused by an irresistible urge to gamble. In 48 of 56 evaluated cases the defendants were diagnosed as pathological gamblers. However, diminished culpability (§ 21 German Criminal Code) was granted in only 32 cases. In these cases the illegal activity to get money could be classified as primarily gambling related.This Article is a revised version of a paper presented at the 9th International Conference on Gambling & Risk-Taking, Las Vegas, Nevada. May 31st–June 3rd, 1994.     

Games and Gambling Involvement Among Casino Patrons

A growing literature is addressing the nature of the relationships among gambling activity, gambling involvement, and gambling-related problems. This research suggests that among the general population, compared to playing any specific game, gambling involvement is a better predictor of gambling-related problems. To date, researchers have not examined these relationships among casino patrons, a population that differs from the general population in a variety of important ways. A survey of 1160 casino patrons at two Las Vegas resort casinos allowed us to determine relationships between the games that patrons played during the 12 months before their casino visit, the games that patrons played during their casino visit, and patrons’ self-perceived history of gambling-related problems. Results indicate that playing specific gambling games onsite predicted (i.e., statistically significant odds ratios ranging from .5 to 4.51) self-perceived gambling-related problems. However, after controlling for involvement, operationally defined as the number of games played during the current casino visit and self-reported gambling frequency during the past 12 months, the relationships between games and gambling-related problems disappeared or were attenuated (i.e., odds ratios no longer statistically significant). These results extend the burgeoning literature related to gambling involvement and its relationship to gambling-related problems.     

A developmental perspective of gambling behavior in children and adolescents

Although it has been determined that gambling is a popular activity amongst the young, there seems to be a lack of studies examining developmental differences in children's gambling behavior. This study examines developmental differences in children's blackjack gambling behavior. One hundred and four students (51 males; 53 females) from grades 4, 6, and 8 completed a questionnaire examining their gambling behavior in general and individually played a computerized blackjack game with the following data being recorded: percentage of accuracy, amounts of money bet, gross winnings, percentage of wins, number of hands played, and end balance. Findings revealed few developmental differences in prevalence and frequency of gambling behavior and performance on a blackjack task. Males were found to wager greater amounts of money and have larger gross winnings than females on the blackjack task. Furthermore, males were more likely to view gambling as involving both large amounts of skill and luck, thus suggesting an illusion of control for gambling activities. The results are discussed from a cognitive developmental perspective.This research was partially supported by a grant from the McGill University Social Science Computer Committee. The authors would like to thank the administration, staff, and students in T.H. Bowes, Prince Charles, Souvenir, Gerald McShane, Our Lady of Pompei, Pierrefond Comprehensive High School, and Western Laval High School, for their participation and cooperation in this study.This is a revision of a paper presented at the Ninth International Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking, Las Vegas, 1994.     

The relationship between gambling and video-game playing behavior in children and adolescents

It is suggested that commercial video-games (e.g.Nintendo &Sega) and gambling activities have similar attractive features and intermittent reinforcement schedules. This research seeks to examine the nature of this relationship amongst children. One hundred and four children aged 9 to 14, from grades 4, 6, and 8, participated. A questionnaire exploring issues related to video-game playing and gambling behavior in children and adolescents was completed and a computerized blackjack game was individually administered. High frequency video-game players were compared to low frequency video-game players with respect to their gambling performance on the blackjack gambling task as well as on information gathered from the questionnaire. Of particular concern is the risk-taking strategies used by avid video-game players, whether or not children perceive gambling and video-games as involving similar amounts of skill or whether they realize that gambling is primarily a game of chance. The findings, in general, suggest that high frequency video-game players gamble more than low frequency video-game players, report that gambling makes them feel more important, and take greater risks on the blackjack gambling task although no overall differences in success were found. Males exhibited greater risk-taking tendencies on the blackjack task than females. The clinical implications of the findings are addressed.This research was partially supported by a grant from the McGill University Social Science Computer Committee.This is a revision of a paper presented at the Ninth International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, Las Vegas, 1994.The authors would like to thank the administration, staff, and students in T.H. Bowes, Prince Charles, Souvenir, Gerald McShane, Our Lady of Pompei, Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School, and Western Laval High School, for their participation and cooperation in this study.     

Unions and wages in Nevada’s hotel-casino industry

A significant union presence in the Las Vegas hotelcasino industry juxtaposed to the near absence of union representation in the Reno area provides a unique setting to study union wage effects in the industry. Results of the analysis using state wage survey data indicate that after controlling for unobserved heterogeneity in the two locations median wages in occupations in Las Vegas with substantial union coverage are 24 percent higher than wages in identical occupations in Reno.     

拉斯维加斯的独轨交通

介绍美国拉斯维加斯的交通状况、独轨交通的计划和特点。     

The Social Costs of Gambling: An Economic Perspective

Much of the opposition to legalized gambling is based on analyses of the social costs that occur as a result of pathological gambling. It is our contention that many, if not most, authors who have contributed to this literature are either unclear or misguided in what they define as social costs. Instead of starting with a clear definition of what constitutes a social cost, these authors have adopted an ad hoc approach-using "common sense" to determine what constitutes losses to society and then attempting to quantify the impact of those activities. We believe this is not, as some suggest, simply a matter of semantics. Rather, it is a serious problem in the gambling literature. How do we differentiate between a consequence of pathological gambling that is a "social cost" and one that is not? Which of the consequences of addictive behaviors that are associated with gambling arise when gambling is legal, and which will be manifest in some form whether or not gambling is legal? In this article we explain the economic perspective on social costs. An understanding of this paradigm removes the subjectivity in the classification of pathological gambling's social costs. The paper has three major components. First, we introduce the economic notion of social costs. Using this paradigm, we differentiate between the "true" social costs related to pathological gambling, and other negative consequences that cannot legitimately be classified as social costs. Second, we evaluate a recent social cost study using the economics social cost paradigm. Third, we discuss two types of social costs that have been largely overlooked in the gambling literature. One is caused by gambling prohibition. The other occurs as a result of "rent seeking" that is related to the political process surrounding the legalization of gambling.     

From Social Capital to Inequality: Migrant Networks in Different Stages of Labor Incorporation

How does social capital vary in the distinct stages (prehiring, hiring, and posthiring) of labor incorporation? Based on interviews with 71 Latino migrant workers engaged in residential construction in Las Vegas, Nevada, and 30 transnational migrants who returned to Mexico after working in the United States, I examined two primary issues: first, the structural labor mechanisms that create hyperexploitation, and second, how, in turn, such processes shape social capital. I discovered, at the prehiring phase, social networks connected to subcontractors and those who attempt to form a labor crew function as social capital, despite what may appear to be bonded labor. At the hiring stage, social capital continues to play a role, yet posthiring labor structures create hyperexploitation and immigrants experience inequality in social capital. In such contexts, undocumented Latinos are unable to retain their social capital as U.S. labor structures such as subcontracting and piece‐rate compensation lead to the subjugation of workers, who can become “ghost workers” and bonded laborers. I conclude that in the posthiring stage, such labor structures create what Lin (2000, 2001) refers to as capital deficit and return deficit in social capital that greatly limit the economic incorporation of Latino immigrants.     

The ethics of gambling: guidelines for players and commercial providers

Current academic and popular debate on gambling rarely focuses on the ethics of gambling, but concentrates on narrower questions of social impact. This article suggests a philosophical foundation for the ethical provision of gambling services. It argues from a moral realist base while paying close attention to the concrete facts of present policy and practice. The article identifies certain objectively good reasons for gambling. Having established gambling is not wrong per se, it advances generic principles that gamblers and gambling providers should follow in order to act ethically. From these generic principles are derived applied principles from which, in turn, operational norms for actual gambling businesses can be articulated. The article concludes that gambling can be offered and chosen in ethically acceptable ways, but that this will require a major shift in self-conception by the gambling industry.     

Machismo: Manifestations of a cultural value in the Latin American casino

Casino operations were observed in twelve Latin American countries. Owners, managers, employees, players, and government regulators in each of these countries were interviewed. The concept of machismo is described in its historical and cultural context. It is then used to illuminate casino operations and the mode of play in existence in these casinos.Research activities for this paper were supported by grants from the First Interstate Bank of Las Vegas, Nevada, through the Center for Business Leadership at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and from Tottenham and Associates, Gaming Consultants, London, England.     

From the Last Frontier to the new Cosmopolitan: A history of casino public relations in Las Vegas

This research examines the use of public relations by the casino gaming industry in Las Vegas, NV. Many are familiar with Las Vegas's extraordinary growth into a tourist destination and cultural icon, but few realize that public relations played a significant part in promoting this growth. Based on archival research, this paper identifies ways in which public relations activities – even when not identified by that particular title – played a role in advancing Las Vegas's casinos into the modern era of corporate ownership and international prominence.