Ethics & Gambling
Matthew J. Nagle
Sociology 120
Kathleen Marker
5/14/2013

The extent of gambling in our state has just exploded with all the casinos that are erected and functional across Pennsylvania. I can go to about six casinos with the closest being approx. three miles to an estimated sixty miles and that is just in the eastern part of the state. “Gambling has been a part of human culture since history was first recorded. It involves three elements: consideration, chance, and reward” (McAuliffe, 2006). I speak of this because after years of experience gambling legally and illegally, I still find myself in moral and ethical situation from time to time. Furthermore, I often wonder where the social and ethical responsibility lye, on the patron only or do we place some of the burden on the casinos and bookmakers. “Compulsive gambling is a serious disorder, as exhibited by extraordinarily high rates of suicide, severe depression, alcohol abuse, and crime” (Unknown). Understanding, that a casino has tracked, recorded your every move in and out, and, every monetary transaction you have attempted and completed in said casino. There must be an equal footing for each to accept responsibility for acting irresponsible. In my findings, I intend to reveal ethical issues related to problem gamblers, casino promotions, and enticements, overall ethical concerns involving both state and church, and finally, some examples to tie it all together. For now, let us look at how problem gamblers arrive at this particular point in their life and what they could do to possible remedy the matter at hand. As you might have pieced together that I myself is a recovering problem gambler. It all starts with the first bet you make and win, then you collect the cash and spend it. What a great feeling that is, but there is another side to the equation, one that cracks you on the chin like a Mike Tyson uppercut. You lose, and have to pay the bookie. I first started betting on Pro and College Football, then came basketball, and betting on those same two levels. Finally, Baseball would carry me through the summer until football began in September. What people do not understand (people who never bet in their life) is this is a sickness and epidemic of monumental proportions that is engulfing the United States of America. When you reach that peak of the mountain, where you need to have a bet riding on some particular event like some junkie needing his heroin to get through the day, you have hit rock bottom and feel so conflicted internally, that evil thoughts start racing in your head. Where will I get the money to pay my bookie, or you think of ways to steal the money, maybe just stick the book and run, and to go one worse, thinking of ways to off yourself so it doesn’t look like suicide and your family will be able to collect the insurance money. I experienced all of them, however, I am one of the lucky ones that were intelligent, and sane enough to problem solve the issue and gain a better understanding of the ethical and moral complications I was precipitating. Nevertheless, I paid the ultimate price; I lost my wife and children to divorce. I thought I hit the bottom before, but I was dead wrong. You question who you are and what you have accomplished in your life. It was the feeling of losing a bunch of money gambling multiplied by one thousand. The realization that you just lost your life you knew for seventeen years was the last crushing blow. I survived and pushed on. Still, ethically if I could have applied the utilitarianism theory of the greatest good for the greatest number or the Golden Rule, things might have played out differently for this recovering problem gambler. Problem Gambling is quite severe in some cases. There are many issues that raise their ugly heads when you lose and win, unbelievably. Some consequences to consider would be of the monetary nature (bankruptcy or stealing), work related issues (late, absent or production), your family will suffer (neglect or verbal abuse), and then there is the mental side (depression or even suicide). This is not the end plan you want for yourself in life. According to Swekoski and Barnbaum, “the gambler who believes his chance of winning is certain on that fifth spin of the wheel, but whose chance is actually 50%, does not merely misunderstand odds; rather, he has a misunderstanding of the achievability of his goal” (2013). Ethical Egoism will take you down this road if you so choose or for that matter Emotivism. The ethical egotist will stay on the gambling train until it runs off the track. The reason for that is the egotist response is they promote their own desires and goals and egoism is all about what I want is right. The theory that the problem gambler deals with is a dangerous one. As far as emotivism, they see the moral evaluations as to liking or not like a particular thing. For example, if it feels good, then it is good and vice versa for the wrong feeling. Another problem that gambling or compulsive gambling is that it is very addicting. In general, but not all the time, if there is one addiction there could quite possibly be another (drugs or alcohol). In reality, some will never experience neither, because drugs and alcohol cannot create that same adrenaline high. The casino can and will provide that type of high upon entrance, but when leaving, expect a total different type of high or low. Casinos promote their establishments as relaxing, comfortable, and friendly place to enjoy your free time. The only people that enjoy themselves in a casino are the individuals that are completely drunk and not gambling. The way I see it is why go to a casino if you are not going to gamble. In contrast, they are loud, dirty, and for the most part people are just miserable because their losing their paychecks or money. These are some of the reason I never stepped into any casino, until one was built three miles from my home. They last three years have been difficult trying to stay out of all casinos, not just the local one. The casinos entice you in by giving their patrons free slot play money. This gets you through the door and in that, “I’m going to hit the big one mindset.” Before you realize what has happen, you have been there for four hours, your half in the bag; you smoked a half pack of cigarettes, and spent the free money and another one hundred to one hundred fifty dollars. Eadington states, “if an action results in making some members of society worse off, and no one better off, then there is a social cost that has occurred” (2003). What Eadington means by social cost is, that the amount of the action which reduces real societal wealth (2003). One thing I have notice is that, time stops in the casino. The only thing that exists is you and your choice of gaming and the possibility to increase your utility or take a social cost hit to the bank account. Your mesmerized by the flashing lights on the slot machines try to figure out which one you will be winning your jackpot on, that is another fallacy that is very unproportional. For the amount of actual jackpots hit and the money that is taken in by a casino is one extreme to another, it just does not compare. Casinos and bookmakers just give us the opportunity to lose our money. We make the final decisions to gamble or not to gamble, if a person has a gambling issue, it usually stems from the inability to control ones impulses or maybe the addiction has taken control. Either way there is a problem. Which begs me to ask the question is gambling an ethical or psychological problem or both? I think they both play their own roles in the manipulation of the mind. On one hand, I ethical and morally debate myself through critical thinking, on whether I go to the casino or not go. I know what the likely outcome and generally choose to go. Psychologically, I am going because the opportunity exists to win money, however, in reality I have already precluded the actually outcome. Whether you care or understand that every action in life has a reaction in some point in time. Gambling and Ethics are no different in that, well, a definite reaction or chain reaction will be set in place and most likely not one you thought about when you woke that morning. We are affecting our own lives in a negative way through gambling, but that could lead to dangerous and immoral actions. Gaming behaviors affect many people who you love and care about in your life. I lost my marriage, which in turn lost the luxury of seeing my children on a daily basis, which put my behavior and emotions in a place where I never wish to return. However, clarity was restored and I returned to the yellow brick road to continue my journey through life. I would act just as the Deontologist in this situation of gambling, not thinking about the consequences, but looking at the reason I acted or choose to act in that particular way. Furthermore, this theory is working against my common sense in that I am choosing to make bad ethical decisions because I am not factoring the consequences of my actions. It is almost seems emotivism or egoism. While casinos are one way to lose our money, let us look at another, State Lotteries. The State run lotteries are another feeble attempt at a quick hit. Really, I believe you have better odds at the casino than playing the lotteries or scratch off tickets. In hindsight, the state (Pennsylvania) has been promoting gambling since I can remember. Why did the state create the lottery? The primary goal was to increase revenue and to hold down or reduce taxes. In addition to that, the worse the financial position of the state, the probability of adopting a lottery increases exponentially. The state lotteries generally generated revenue in the inception years, however, as the years continue to pass the revenues have diminished and become erratic from year to year. It is hard to estimate or forecast what type of revenue, because the lottery is dependent on ticket sales and those can be up and down from year to year. The state of Pennsylvania promotes it’s lottery as benefitting senior citizens, other state run lotteries contribute to education. In an article by E.W. McAuliffe, she states that, “Education is unquestionably the most popular single funding area for lotteries, yet it is doubtful whether the lottery has truly enhanced education” (2006). The state lottery has its positive and negative aspects, but do they take any responsibility for the negative impacts on people’s lives or does the state just take credit for the positive outcomes? Another, entity that has advocating gambling is the Catholic Church. I am Roman Catholic and if there was any type fundraiser, such as, summer and winter carnivals, gambling was always involved. There is more, any age group could gamble, so I am playing the money wheels, poker, dice games and so on at the age of 10 or 11. Does the Church take any type of ethical responsibility for influencing my addiction to gambling? Well, for the most part that was my introduction to gambling and the initial experience of feeling that type of adrenaline rush. Any drugs or alcohol that can be taken legally or illegally cannot duplicate this form. I can still remember it was not about how much I won, hence, how many times I could play and experience that particular high. The problem with the Church is that they are a bunch of hypocrites. Saying one thing and doing another. They claim charity, and I said gambling. Are they also just providing an outlet to lose our money? So where does the ethical responsibility lie with the Church, State, and Casinos? I have provided a few examples from William Eadington, that I will analyze and provide my insights on each given problem:
1. The Miscreant Father: A family breadwinner loses the rent money due to excessive gambling at the local casino. As a result, his family is evicted from their apartment, the man’s wife abandons him, the children are traumatized, and he subsequently loses his job for chronic absenteeism. (2003) Analysis of problem #1 Ethically, this man is a wreck in mass proportions. Which ethical theories would you apply in this situation? In this particular situation, I see deontology and ethical egoism. Here is why; he does not view the consequences of his actions and therefore, did not take into consideration of the Golden Rule and treat his family with the dignity and respect they deserve. He said, “I’m doing what I want regardless of who I affect. In addition, the utilitarian theory could also be applied in this situation. The greatest good for the greatest number of people involved.

2. Since a casino has come into operation, observers note fewer community members are going to church services, are voting in elections, or are participating in voluntary activities for the city’s more needy citizens. There is also concern that welfare or social security checks are being cashed at the casino on a fairly regular basis. (2003)
Analysis of scenario #2 In this example, we see that the casino might be having an adverse effect on the community as a whole. What would of happen had the casino never been built? Would certain community members still attend church, vote in elections, and volunteer for the needy citizens if the casino never existed? Maybe the people would have found a casino in close proximity or turned to drugs and alcohol as a release. In this situation, I would apply the theory of Deontology, in that the casino did not factor in the impact it would have on the base community. Nor, do I think the casino do studies on how the casino would affect the area in general and the people that presently reside. Furthermore, they probably do a study of economic growth and stability, to see if the surrounding area can support the casino. There is an ethical problem, when you know the majority of people will lose their hard earned money, while increasing your utility and reducing the social cost in the community.

3. Social Impacts: Since the opening of a local casino, a number of pawnshops have open in town. The police department reports that there has been a significant increase in the number of DWI (driving while intoxicated) citations in the city sector where the casino is located, Observers have noted that people who frequent the casino smoke and drink disproportionately to the city’s general population. There also been a few dramatic suicides of elderly people who left notes saying that gambling losses had shattered the stability of their lives.
Analysis of problem #3 You are probable looking at Deontology and Egoism in the first part of this case. The egoist will promote whatever increases his own happiness and pleasure. In addition, something that promotes what I want is right. As we related the excessive drinking and smoking to ethical egoism, they are in their own minds promoting ones happiness and desires. The DWI is the consequence of the action that has taken place. The deontologist would surmise that the consequences never factor in to how one chooses to act. Therefore, the egoism takes control and you are on your way to a DWI. Unfortunately, the suicide is the elderly peoples fault. When analyzing this portion of the scenario I kept thinking how and why. As I stated above, “casinos only give you the opportunity, there is no guarantee to win. The public that act off impulses provides the spark. Should casinos take a more active approach with problem gamblers? The disclaimer at the end of commercials, which state, Have a gambling problem call 1-800-GAMBLER, this does not satisfy the casinos ethical obligation to its patrons. Maybe establishing programs to help problem gamblers, but therein lays the problem, why would the casino cut its own revenue by promoting and funding to stop gambling. This is a way to promote gambling awareness and in theory increase, revenues not decrease them as many might have thought. We are a forgiving and sympathetic society as a whole. So, provide services that help the few problem gamblers. This shows empathy and in theory increases your revenue through caring for your patron’s well-being. In conclusion, “a stark warning that gambling-related harm remains a much-neglected concern” (Adams, Raeburn, DeSilva, 2009). there are issues on both sides of the coin, ethical and moral values. Who is really at fault or is anybody? Gambling takes a hold of you like a Boa Constrictor, just when you thought things were getting loose the Boa would just tighten that grip and suck you back in. I was able to reveal ethical issues related to problem gamblers, casino promotions, and enticements, overall ethical concerns involving both state and church, and finally, some examples to tie it all together. This also could be classified as a form of negative reciprocity. The casino is, hoping to take your money, while we the patrons are trying to spend as little as possible to maximize our utility. This would be more of an indirect concept; the employees of a casino are there to make sure everyone is enjoying himself or herself. It is one of those unwritten rules that is not talked about, but thought about. If not gambling, then what drugs and alcohol. If I was told once, I was told a thousand times, everything in moderation. Think about those three words and see how you can reshape your life in doing everything in moderation. I do not believe gambling is unethical; nevertheless, there are issues that need to be cleaned up, in order to promote a positive image for casinos globally.

References
Eadington, W.R. (2003) Measuring Costs from Permitted Gaming: Concepts and Categories in Evaluating Gambling's Consequences. Journal of Gambling Studies; 19(2) pp 185-213
Nealon, J. T. (2006) Take Me Out To the Slot Machines: Reflections on Gambling and Contemporary American Culture. South Atlantic Quarterly. 105(6) pp 465-474
Petvenko, A., McArthur, D., (2011) High Stakes Gambling with Unknown Outcomes: Justifying the Precautionary Principle. Journal of Social Philosophy. 42(4) pp 346-362
Unknown, Problem Gambling: The Hidden Addiction. Minnesota Department of Human Services. Retrieved from: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/disabilities/documents/pub/dhs16_136912.pdf
Adams, P. J., Raeburn, J., De Silva, K. (2009) Social Marketing, and Problem Gambling: A Critical Perspective. Addiction. 104(5) pp. 692-693
Swekoski, D., Barnbaum, D. (2013) The Gambler’s Fallacy. IRB – Ethics & Human Research. 35(2) pp. 1-7
McAuliffe, E.W. (2006) the State Sponsored Lottery. Public Integrity. 8(4) pp. 367-379