Gambling has long been an integral part of life and culture, shaping both economics and cultures in various ways. From country traditions and values to creating immense amounts of fun and excitement – gambling has an everlasting hold over us all!
Casino gambling can come with some strange traditions from around the globe, here are a few that stand out.
China
Chinese gambling history dates back centuries; some of their earliest gambling games date to as far back as the first dynasty. Today, Macau is an outstanding example of Chinese prowess when it comes to casino gaming; overtaking Las Vegas as the world’s largest casino city with baccarat being its primary form of entertainment and accounting for more than 50% of annual revenue generated here.
Gambling is illegal in China and was one of the many social ills promised to be eliminated by the Communist Party. While Chinese citizens may participate in state lotteries or travel overseas to gamble, they cannot access online casinos targeting mainland Chinese as clients or open casinos that target mainland Chinese as their target clientele.
James Packer, an Australian casino tycoon, recently warned of China’s restrictive gambling regulations as hampering growth for the industry. Furthermore, as more Chinese are able to travel more often they will bring their pent-up demand with them into other parts of Asia.
Ireland
Ireland is a popular travel destination, known for its lush green countryside, historic castles, and lively culture. Gambling here primarily takes the form of sports betting and horse racing events; however, recent years have also seen an upsurge in online casino and lottery game gambling as well as concern regarding problem gambling among its population and government efforts to address it.
Players in Ireland need to understand the legal issues surrounding casino gambling. A recently passed law mandates all online gambling operators register with an independent regulatory body. This body will regulate online gaming, set up an exclusion list for national exclusion, promote responsible gambling practices and work towards creating a social impact fund for research and problem gambling programs – helping reduce negative effects of gambling on society and economy alike. Moreover, Ireland is beginning to adopt an ethical approach towards gaming.
United States
Gambling in the United States takes many forms. Lotteries and sports betting may be popular forms, while slot machines or poker tables may also offer gambling as entertainment options for consumers in some regions. Yet despite its prevalence, little research exists on cultural factors that drive its initiation and maintenance – this lack of research being especially problematic given that most prevalence studies of gambling/PG fail to incorporate cultural considerations, while studying cultural factors could assist researchers better in understanding how best to address problem gambling among diverse populations.
History shows us that different cultures have had vastly differing perceptions of gambling as both harmless and harmful, respectable and illicit, legal and illegal, depending on customs, traditions, religion and morals. One study indicated that people who are better educated, wealthier and less likely to attend church tend to view gambling as immoral; white evangelical Protestants in contrast tend to view gambling as immoral due to a belief that gambling undermines religious faith and personal integrity.
France
Public authorities in France are involved at various levels when it comes to gambling. Local prefects serve as administrative officers in regards to land-based gambling while various commissions within the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Economy and Finance have exclusive jurisdiction over specific games.
Casinos in France are highly regulated and operated under stringent licensing conditions to prevent money laundering and fraud. All gaming circles in Paris have closed, while in 2018 an experimental form of legal entity called “gaming clubs” (Clubs de Jeux) was created for this purpose – offering only limited games compared to casinos.
ANJ, which recently replaced ARJEL, has broad powers. It is responsible for issuing licenses, enforcing online gambling regulations, combating addiction and illegal websites as well as money laundering/fraud. However, any casino games operated outside FDJ are still banned in France.
