Skip to main content
Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health
Download PDF

Legislative Councilors’ Perceptions of Gambling Expansion and Responsible Gambling Practices in Hong Kong

Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health volume 2, pages 39–48 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

This study investigates the Legislative Councilors’ perceptions of gambling expansion and responsible gambling practices in Hong Kong. Employing quota sampling strategies, fourteen councilors were recruited to attend a 30-minute semi-structured interview. The results showed that many respondents (64.3%) rejected further expansion of legalized gambling in Hong Kong. Only two interviewees explicitly supported further gambling liberalization (e.g. casino gambling or increases in horse races). While the opponents were concerned about the negative impacts associated with legalized gambling activities, the proponents emphasized the economic benefits of further gambling expansion. Factors that might have influenced the councilors’ views on gambling expansion were identified: individual gambling attitudes and past experience in gambling participation, knowledge about excessive gambling, and views on individual versus social responsibility for gambling problems. Few interviewees considered that gamblers were solely responsible for their actions, difficulties and for their problem-solving endeavors. Most agreed that both the government and gambling operators have a very important role to play in addressing problem gambling, and would like to urge these key stakeholders to minimize gambling-related harms through improving responsible gambling practices. The study results have implications for gambling legislation, policy, and research.

Reference

  • Bergh, C., & Kuhlhorn, E. (1994). Social, psychological and physical consequences of pathological gambling in Sweden. Journal of Gambling Studies, 10, 275–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaszczynski, A., Ladouceur, R., & Shaffer, H. J. (2004). A science-based framework for responsible gambling: The Reno model. Journal of Gambling Studies, 20, 301–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaszczynski, A., Ladouceur, R., Lia, N., & Shaffer, H. J. (2008). Informed choice and gambling: Principles for consumer protection. Journal of Gambling Business and Economics, 2, 103–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadbourne, C., Walker, P., & Wolfe, M. (1997). Gambling, economic development, and historic preservation. Chicago: American Planning Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Vaus, D. A. (1995). Survey in Social Research. University College London: Allen and Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickerson, M., Allcock, C., Blaszczynski, A., Nicholls, B., Williams, J., & Maddern, R. (1995). An examination of the socioeconomic effects of gambling on individuals, families, and the community including research into the costs of problem gambling to New South Wales. Sydney: Australian Institute for Gambling Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Filby, M. P., & Harvey, L. (1988). Recreational betting: Everyday activity and strategies. Leisure Studies, 7, 159–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fong, K. C., Fong, H. N., & Li, S. Z. (2011). The social cost of gambling in Macao: before and after the liberalization of the gaming industry. International Gambling Studies, 11, 43–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gazel, R. (1998). The economic impacts of casino gambling at the state and local levels. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 556, 66–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hing, N. (2001). Changing the odds: A study of corporate social principles and practices in addressing problem gambling. Journal of Business Ethics, 33, 115–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong Kong Jockey Club. (2011). Retrieved from: http://corporate.hkjc.com/corporate/rgp/english/index.aspx

  • Hong Kong Polytechnic University. (2001). A study on Hong Kong people’s participation in gambling activities. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong Kong Polytechnic University. (2008). Evaluative study on the impacts of gambling liberalization in nearby cities on Hong Kong people’s participation in gambling activities and development of counseling and treatment services for problem gamblers. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Legislative Council. (2009). Retrieved from: http://www.legco.gov.hk/general/chinese/members/yr08-12/lwk.htm

  • Leung, K. C., Wong, I. L. K., Lau, K. M., & Yeung, S. C. (2010). Stress, health and coping resources of Chinese pathological gamblers’ spouses. Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health, 1, 61–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, V. C., & Yaffee, R. A. (1989). Pathological gamblers and their spouses: Problems in interaction. Journal of Gambling Behavior, 5, 113–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, K., & Wynne, H. (2003). Fighting the odds. Statistics Canada Perspectives, December, 5–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMillen, J., & McAllister, G. (2000). Responsible gambling: Legal and policy issues. Paper presented at the Third National Gambling Regulation Conference. Sydney.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M.B., & Huberman, A.M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded source book. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Institute of Economics and Industry Research. (2003, July). The economic impact of gambling: A report for the Casino Community Benefit Fund. New South Wales. Department of Gaming and Racing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Productivity Commission. (1999). Australia’s gambling industries (Report No. 10). Canberra: AusInfo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegel, D., & Anders, D. (1999). Public policy and the displacement effects of casinos: A case study of riverboat gambling in Missouri. Journal of Gambling Studies, 15, 105–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • University of Hong Kong. (2005). A study on Hong Kong people’s participation in gambling activities. Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, I. L. K. (2006). Challenges confronting Asian gaming industry: Developing responsible gaming training and related initiatives. In Proceedings of An International Conference on Gaming Industry and Public Welfare 2006 (pp. 179–188). China Center for Lottery Studies, Peking University, Macao Polytechnic Institute and Institute for Tourism Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wong, I. L. K. (2010). Gambling behavior among underage adolescents in Hong Kong. Asian Journal of Gambling Issues and Public Health, 1, 47–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, I. L. K., & So, E. M. T. (2003). Prevalence estimates of problem and pathological gambling in Hong Kong. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160, 1353–1354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, I. L. K., & So, E. M. T. (2004). A study of adolescent gambling behavior. Hong Kong: Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

    Irene Lai Kuen Wong, Yuk Wa Chui & Yee Shan Yue

Authors
  1. Irene Lai Kuen Wong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yuk Wa Chui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yee Shan Yue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irene Lai Kuen Wong.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wong, I.L.K., Chui, Y.W. & Yue, Y.S. Legislative Councilors’ Perceptions of Gambling Expansion and Responsible Gambling Practices in Hong Kong. Asian J of Gambling Issues and Public Health 2, 39–48 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03342124

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03342124

Key words

  • Harm Minimization
  • Problem Gambling
  • Responsible Gambling