Responsible Gambling and the Rationalization of Risk Taking in America

Session Title

Session 1-1-E: Gambling and the American Dream

Presenters

Andrea Dassopoulos, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Presentation Type

Event

Location

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada

Start Date

28-5-2019 9:15 AM

End Date

28-5-2019 10:40 AM

Disciplines

Sociology of Culture

Abstract

Global expansion of gambling increases the prevalence of gambling addictions and other gambling related social problems. As these risks have increased, so have demands for improved care of problem gamblers and mitigation of risks to the public. Responsible gambling efforts—such as casino-specific programs, public awareness campaigns, and responsible gambling apps—have proliferated in recent years and focus on reframing gambling as form of entertainment with associated risks that can be mitigated. This paper examines responsible gambling campaigns and their efforts to ease anxieties about gambling. I draw on sociological theories of the risk society and rationalization to contextualize gambling’s place in the contemporary American cultural landscape.

Keywords

Risk culture, rationalization, responsible gaming.

Author Bios

Andrea Dassopoulos is a PhD candidate in sociology at UNLV. Her research focuses on shifting cultural norms and the politics of exclusion in urban environments. She also conducts evaluation research for state funded problem gambling clinics in Nevada.

Funding Sources

None

Competing Interests

None

Comments

Please include this paper as part of the "Gambling and the American Dream" session.