COMMERCIAL GAMING:
THE UNFAIR DEAL
By Sandra Dekker.
A thesis submitted in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of
Social Work and Social Policy, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
The
Magill,
September,
1997.
ABSTRACT
Those who experience
problems with poker machine playing are labelled 'compulsive' and/or addicted pathologised as deviant and scape-goated
as an aberration of the gaming industry. State governments and the gaming
industry reinforce the deviance. The purpose of this research is to depathologise these people. The study argues that rather
than being the result of pathology within the individual, problems experienced
with poker machine playing is a natural outcome of the activity. This thesis,
adopting both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, provides a critical
structural analysis of the gaming industry at the political, social, media, and
operational levels in venues and poker machine playing. The study has employed
several methods of research: a critical review of the new gaming industry and
poker machines, a critical literature review of explanations for gambling, and
a field observation of venues which included researcher participation in poker
machine playing. Results of the research indicate that the cause of poker
machine playing lie within the gaming industry, rather than the players. A
questionnaire survey study of poker machine players reveals the success of the
gambling industry's ploys in extracting the gambling dollar.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapters
(double
click on the title to read the chapter)
Concern of the study.
Aim of the research
Hypothesis
Research methodology
Theoretical Framework
Research Methods
The Field Observation
The Questionnaire Survey
Definitions
Structure of Thesis
Introduction
The Australian Context - From a Sin to a vice, To a Disease
The Social Virtue
Current Research
Commercial Gaming as a Catalyst for Economic Growth
Commercial Gaming and Private Profit
Commercial Gaming and Employment
Commercial Gaming and Problem Gambling
Victorian Research into Problem Gambling
Introduction
General Theories of Gambling
The Excessive Gambler
Phases of Compulsive Gambling
Effects of Excessive Gambling
Two Typologies of Gamblers?
Introduction
Structural Characteristics of Poker Machines
The Unfair Bet
Exploitation
Advertising and Marketing Stratgies
Abuse of the Human Sciences
Introduction
Gambling as a Process
The Two Typologies
The Majority - The Quantative Element
The Pathological Labels - The Qualitative Element
The 'New' Women Problem Gamblers
The Irrational Gambler
The Irrational Activity
Introduction
The Critical Descriptive Analysis
The Venues - Physical and Affective Environment
Structural Characteristics of Poker Machines
Researcher Participation
Incentives and Promotions
Information Provided by the Venues Regarding Gambling Activities
Control and Responsibility of the Gaming Industry
Utility (and Abuse) of the Knowledge of Human Sciences
Discussion with Key Informants in Gambling Services
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Introduction
Results
Discussion
Introduction
Conclusions
Social Implications for Social Workers
Suggestions
LIST OF TABLES
Changes in Gambling Habits -
Table (5A) - Change in Frequency
Table (5B) - Change in Time Spent Playing
Table (5C) - Change in Expenditure
Table (5D) - Chasing Losses
Table (5E) - Increase of Bets
Table (5F) - Limits of Money
Table (5G) - Utility of Eftpos Machines
Table (5H) - Overspending
Table (5I) - Nearly Wins
APPENDIX A - Questionnaire Survey Covering Letter
APPENDIX B - Survey Questionnaire
APPENDIX C - Survey Questionnaire Results
