Canadian Dream, Capitalism, and the State: Structural Conditions of Youth Gambling in Canada

Abstract

Adolescent gambling is a major social problem in North America. Over the years this problem has given rise to a number of theoretical explanations. This paper argues that the existing explanations of youth gambling underestimate the influence of broader structural forces conducive to youth gambling problem and, instead, provide micro analyses that often blames individuals for their gambling problems. As such, these theories produce incomplete pictures of a persistent, cohesive and growing problem. Canadian youth's gambling problem is said to be better understood within the nexus of: (1) the Canadian state's pro-gambling policies due to the need for revenues, (2) the discrepancy between widely shared Canadian cultural values-wealth, power, and success-and legitimate means of achieving them, and (3) the capitalist processes of profit making and commodification.

Gambling participation and policies in Malaysia

“…Researchers have pointed out that some demographic groups are more vulnerable and have a higher risk of developing gambling problems. Groups at higher risk include individuals of Chinese ethnicity (Loo et al 2008 ; Yen and Wu 2013 ), minorities such as Indigenous populations (Breen and Gainsbury 2013 ; Dyall 2010 ), the poor and less educated (Clotfelter and Cook 1989 ), the elderly (McNeilly and Burke 2000 ), and youth (Barmaki and Zangeneh 2009 ). It has also been noted that people with pre-existing mental health conditions are at a higher risk of developing problem gambling (Rodda et al 2012 ).…”

“…Governments can decide to legalize gambling for economic reasons such as increasing state revenues through entertainment taxes (Barmaki and Zangeneh 2009 ; Hancock et al 2008 ). A complete ban on gambling within a political jurisdiction is harder to enforce and may drive such activities underground, creating opportunities for organized crime groups to engage in illegal gambling operations, or induce gamblers to cross state or national borders to gamble.…”

« La première fois que j’ai joué… » : l’expérience d’adolescents considérés comme ayant des difficultés avec les jeux de hasard et d’argent

“…Bien sûr, l'occasion de s'enrichir sans trop d'efforts fait partie des bénéfices anticipés. Tel que le soulignent Barmaki et Zangeneh (2009), les JHA peuvent facilement être perc¸us comme un moyen facile et légitime d'accéder à la richesse, d'accéder à cet idéal véhiculé au sein de notre société. De plus, la publicité entourant les JHA ne manque pas de faire miroiter l'occasion d'accéder à cette richesse tant convoitée.…”