Academic literature on the topic 'Gambling – Economic aspects'

This paper builds upon DeBoer's (2001) assertion that models of ancient North American cultural systems can be enriched by incorporating gambling as a dynamic and productive social practice using the case study of the Ancient Puebloan center of Chaco Canyon (ca. AD 800–1180). A review of Native North American, Pueblo, and worldwide ethnography reveals gambling's multidimensionality as a social, economic, and ceremonial technology in contrast to its recreational associations in contemporary Western society. I propose that gambling was one mechanism through which leaders in precontact North America—and, specifically, at Chaco Canyon—integrated diverse communities, facilitated trade, accumulated material wealth, perpetuated religious ideology, and established social inequality. I present evidence of gambling at Chaco Canyon in the form of 471 gaming artifacts currently held in museum collections in addition to oral traditions of descendant Native cultures that describe extensive gambling in Chacoan society.

AbstractGambling is a specific type of economic activity that significantly affects many aspects of society. It is associated mainly with negative impacts on the lives of individuals and their families, but it also has a positive economic impact on the public budgets of states, regions and municipalities. In this article, we focus on a geographic assessment of the development of gambling in the Czech Republic, which is based on a spatial analysis of data on licensed games and data on the revenues of municipalities arising from gambling. It turns out that the occurrence of gambling is strongly influenced by binary centre/periphery dichotomy, with the exception of the Czech-Austrian and Czech-German border areas which are characterised by a high concentration of casinos resulting from more rigid regulation of gambling on the other side of the border. In this research, the authors develop an innovative scientific discipline within Czech human geography: The geography of gambling.

Gambling as a form of economic activity exists in almost all countries of the world. Only the question of the form of its implementation is relevant: it can be an illegal activity, or an activity permitted by law in one or another country. Gambling is a very profitable business. For example, from January to October 2021, the gross revenue from games in the United States of America was 43.43 billion dollars [2]. Income from gambling is an important source of replenishment of the state budget of each country, which is why most states have legalized this type of activity by establishing mandatory gambling licensing and established requirements for gambling organizers. The article carries out a systematic analysis of the provisions of the legislation on gambling in a number of foreign countries, compares their experience and the basics of the mechanism of implementation of this activity in Ukraine. In particular, through the systematization of the elaborated regulatory legal acts on gambling in foreign countries, the main features of three models of conducting gambling business - British, American and European - were highlighted and outlined. The method of comparing models of gambling organizations makes it possible to highlight aspects of the national model that need improvement by adopting foreign experience. The most controversial is the prohibition of foreign representatives from conducting activities related to the organization of gambling in Ukraine, since such a ban significantly reduces the percentage of revenues to the state budget from the activities of world-famous gambling giants. The article examines the main aspects of the regulation of gambling in Ukraine and the world in the context of requirements for their organizers. The domestic and foreign models of regulation of the organization of the gambling industry were analyzed and their problematic aspects and positive practices were highlighted.

In the context of Georgia’s transition from a planned to a market economy, the regulation of gambling (specifically the gambling business) and its impact on various societal aspects present unique challenges. This dynamic forms a complex interplay among “business,” “society,” and the “state,” each with its distinct interests, advantages, and drawbacks. Notably, the casino industry plays a significant role within this landscape. This study analyzes and discusses the casino industry’s importance, examining both objective and subjective factors influencing its growth and development. Furthermore, it explores the positive and negative effects of the industry on stakeholders, considers fiscal determinants, and addresses financial and socioeconomic issues within this sub-sector. Based on theoretical and empirical analysis, the study provides relevant recommendations.

This paper mostly discusses legal and some economic aspects of games of chance as an economic activity. In that context, the negative effects of gambling and betting activities are pointed out, especially on the development and spread of social deviations due to the uncontrolled consumption of games of chance. The paper aims to indicate in what way, and to what extent, the legislation in the Republic of Serbia regulates gambling and betting activities, i.e., what impact the legislation has exclusively on the financial and marketing business aspects of the three most represented organizers of games of chance in this area. The first part of the paper points to the numerous specifics characterizing gambling and betting activities, i.e. special legal regulations that regulate each business segment in this activity. The second part of the paper presents a financial overview of the performance indicators of the three most represented organizers of games of chance. The final part of the paper is dedicated to the legal possibilities and restrictions to advertising games of chance, or the efforts of all three organizers to boost the promotion of their business by taking on socially responsible activities, keeping it with such an approach within the legal framework.

Gambling can be defined as a common name for a set of different games, behaviors and activities, which involve investing money or some other value, with risk and hope in anticipation of a positive outcome. With the development of society, gambling took on different forms and meanings depending on the socio-cultural norms and beliefs of a given era. Today we are talking about gambling as a generally accepted activity, present in different social contexts. Although most individuals participate in gambling as a fun social activity, a small group of people become seriously involved in gambling activities, which currently leads to the recognition of gambling as a behavioral addiction, known as ?gambling disorder?. Various public policy factors, economic factors, community factors, social norms, legislation, as well as media coverage of gambling have made a huge contribution to the popularization and liberalization of gambling. The aim of this paper is to summarize scientific knowledge about key socio-cultural aspects of gambling. Based on a review of relevant and recent literature, the paper will present the development of gambling throughout history, socio-cultural factors of gambling and the social implications of gambling.

The aims of this paper are twofold: first, to demonstrate the importance and relevance of interpretive political analysis to gambling research and second, to analyze from the aforementioned perspective why politicians in Finland talk about gambling harm and gambling revenue the way they do. The speeches of the representatives in the Parliament of Finland during debates on gambling policy are analysed as political action. The analysis has three levels. The first focuses on the themes of the speeches. The results show that there are four distinct thematic dimensions in the speeches: gambling harm, revenue, regulatory system, and regulation. The second level of analysis establishes the contexts where certain themes typically occur. Typically, revenue is discussed in the context of the economic aspect of gambling while gambling harm is discussed in the context of the justification of the regulatory system. The third level of analysis explains why the themes occur in the contexts they do. The representatives´ acceptance of the self-evidence of the regulatory system forecloses any possibility of getting support for major changes to the system. This explains why the official policy aims of reducing and preventing gambling harm have not been realized. It is concluded that the approach introduced can help to understand the political aspects of gambling.

There is a long-standing gap in the market for a journal that provides an outlet for academics and practitioners who have an interest in the economic and business aspects of the rapidly growing international gambling market. This journal is designed to fill this gap.

The development of gaming business in the world as a form of entertainment and leisure service, on the one hand, led to the transformation of the principles, norms and rules of gambling supervision and management, and on the other hand, determined the change in the demand for gambling services and the behavior of consumers. The positive and negative aspects arising from the development of this business affect the socio-economic development of the country. Therefore, in order to implement the correct supervisory policy in the mentioned field, specialized bodies are created and operate to ensure a systematic approach to the control and regulation of this business. The policy issues of regulation and state supervision of gambling business in foreign countries is discussed in the article.

Online gambling has become a prominent phenomenon among students because it is considered a fast way to earn money instantly, even becoming the main source of income for some students to meet their daily needs. However, serious attention to this phenomenon arises because it is considered detrimental to the future of Indonesia's young generation, changing mindsets in earning a living and forming less productive personalities. Some cases involve students using money from their tuition fees to gamble without considering the risks, potentially threatening their ability to pay off educational costs. Therefore, this research aims to identify the factors driving students to engage in online gambling. Factors such as social, economic, situational aspects, learning environment, perception of winning, and perception of addiction influence students' tendencies in online gambling, while secretive attitudes, difficulty accepting advice, stubbornness, and reluctance to admit or avoid potential dangers are obstacles in dealing with this phenomenon.

Thesis (MComm)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The legalisation of gambling in South Africa was perceived by many as an unnecessary vice that would bring social decay in a country that is already battling to cope with a wide array of social woes, such as unemployment, crime, etc. Anti gambling protestors argued that South African society is not sufficiently developed to cope with an industry that diverts money from normal household budgetary expenditure patterns to the many forms of gambling that suddenly became legal. Protestors also argued that gambling tax is just another tax on an already overtaxed society. Many of these arguments were justified and the legalisation of gambling was clearly an issue, which had to be dealt with carefully. Politicians, the custodians of a well-managed political system through pro-active policies that will be to the benefit of a country and its people were in a particularly difficult position with the creation of a legalized gambling industry and had to weigh policy between the advantage of additional tax revenue and the disadvantage of adding to the social ills of South African society. In terms of the Constitution of South Africa gambling was a concurrent competence and the respective provinces had an opportunity to develop gambling policy that will be beneficial to the relevant province. Although the national Gambling Act provided the broad parameters in which provincial legislation had to be developed, provinces had ample opportunity to be innovative in respect of provincial gambling legislation. After the legalisation of gambling provinces moved quickly to ensure that casinos were developed, mainly to create a larger revenue base through gambling tax. Most provinces were cash-strapped, as their share of the national budget was not sufficient to deal with the long list of provincial development priorities. A way had to be found to supplement the national government contributions and gambling tax was an attractive option. The Western Cape Province moved somewhat slower in the promulgation of provincial gambling legislation. There was a clear realisation that gambling was going to have a massive social impact on the population of the Western Cape and therefore had a clear objective to find ways to develop casinos in such a way that it would offset the negative impact of gambling. This thesis did not place any emphasis on the quantification of the social impact (such as lack of productivity, loss of employment, bankruptcy, domestic violence, divorce, etc). The objective was to show that the allocation of a gambling licence could be used to create infrastructure that is not linked or related to a casino. Such infrastructure is normally in high demand in cities or regions, which are emerging as tourist destinations, but the infrastructure would not be developed by the government, as the capital cost is too high, nor by the private sectors as the profit margins are too low. The Western Cape used its allocation of five casino licences in terms of the National Gambling Act to create an impact on the whole of the region by dividing the province into five regions and allocating a casino licence to each of the regions. Since 1994 Cape Town and the Western Cape have gained prominence internationally as a tourist destination. It was soon clear that the city and region would not be able to cope with the influx of tourists due to a lack of hotel rooms and other tourism infrastructure. It was also clear that the tourism industry would not show the required growth without facilities, such as a convention centres. It is particularly a convention centre that became an urgent element in Cape Town as convention business has become a rapidly growing business with a potentially significant impact in terms of convention expenditure and the resulting economic impact on a city. The Western Cape developed gambling policy determinations made it clear that in the case of the five regions, casino bid companies were obliged to include tourism infrastructure that would add value to a particular region. It was made clear that such infrastructure should not necessarily be linked with a casino and could be off-site. The policy determinations were clear in its stipulations that stand-alone casinos would not be entertained in the adjudication process. The development of an international convention centre became an important criterion in the allocation of a casino licence in the Cape Metropole. Although casino bid companies included different kinds of infrastructure in their bids (mostly projects that would have a positive impact on tourism) the development of an international convention centre became a strong factor and the casino licence for the Cape Metropole was allocated to the company that included the development of an international convention centre in the their casino bid application. Although convention centers are rarely profitable they are known to change the face of cities and regions in terms of their economic impact, not only the impact in terms of urban renewal opportunity, but also attracting domestic and international convention center delegate expenditure and the expenditure on hotels, food and beverage, transport, and general tourism expenditure. The direct, indirect and induced economic impact of this expenditure in the Western Cape and Cape Town result in the off-setting of the negative social impact and ensure that the benefits of the legalisation of gambling is extended to projects that would be unlikely developments in the absence of a casino licence allocated. The study undertaken demonstrates the economic impact (direct, indirect and induced) of the Cape Town International Convention Centre. It also shows the impact of the center on the promotion of tourism, including convention center delegates returning to the Western Cape for leisure purposes in the future. It culminates in the conclusion that the allocation of a casino licence should not only be the development of a stand-alone casino, but also the creation of tourism infrastructure that offsets the negative impact of gambling.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wettiging van die dobbelindustrie was deur baie mense gesien as ‘n onnodige euwel wat net sou bydra tot sosiale verval in ‘n land wat reeds gebuk gaan onder ‘n wye verskeidenheid sosiale probleme, soos werkloosheid, misdaad, ens. Anti-dobbel stemme het argumenteer dat die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap is nie genoegsaam ontwikkel om ‘n industrie te hanteer wat geld kanaliseer vanaf normale huishoudelike besteding na die vorme van dobbel wat gewettig is nie. Anti-dobbel stemme het verder genoem dat dobbel net ‘n verdere belasting is in ‘n gemeenskap wat reeds oorbelas is. Baie van hierdie argumente het gewig gedra en die wettiging van die dobbelindustrie was duidelik ‘n kwessie wat versigtig hanteer moes word. Politici, die beskermhere van ‘n gesonde politieke bestel deur pro-aktiewe beleidstappe wat tot voordeel van ‘n land en sy mense behoort te wees, was in ‘n besondere politieke dilemma met die wettiging van die dobbelindustrie en moes die voordele van verdere belastinginkomste in ag neem saam met die sosiale nadele wat die industrie sou skep. Volgens die Konstitusie van Suid-Afrika is dobbel ‘n konkurente verantwoordelikheid en die onderskeie provinsies kon provinsiale dobbelbeleid ontwikkel volgens provinsiale vereistes. Alhoewel die nasionale wetgewing die oorhoofse raamwerk skep vir provinsiale wetgewing, het provinsies die geleentheid gehad om innoverend te wees met die ontwikkeling van provinsiale wetgewing. Na die wettiging van die dobbelindustrie het provinsies vinnig opgetree om casinos te ontwikkel, hoofsaaklik om ‘n groter belastingbasis te ontwikkel deur die toepassing van wetgewing. Die meeste provinsies ondervind ‘n tekort aan inkomste, aangesien die inkomstetoedeling vanaf die nasionale regering nie genoegsaam is om aandag te gee aan ‘n lang lys van ontwikkelingsprioritiete nie. ‘n Weg moes gevind word om provinsiale inkomste aan te vul en dobbelbelasting was ‘n aantreklike opsie. Die Wes-Kaap Provinsie het ‘n meer geduldige pad geloop in die promulgering van dobbelwetgewing. Daar was ‘n duidelike besef dat dobbel ‘n massiewe negatiewe sosiale impak in die Wes-Kaap sou teweeg bring en was daarvan oortuig dat ‘n weg gevind moes word om die negatiewe sosiale impak minder te maak. Die tesis het nie die klem geplaas op die kwantifisering van die negatiewe impak (soos byvoorbeeld die gebrek aan produktiwiteit, verlies aan werkgeleenthede, bankrotskappe, huishoudlike geweld, egskeidings, ens) nie. Die doel was om te demonstreer dat die toekenning van ‘n casino dobbellisensie gebruik kan word om infrastruktuur te skep wat nie direk verwant is aan ‘n casino nie. Sodanige infrastruktuur is gewoonlik in aanvraag in stede en streke wat ontluik as toerismbestemmings, maar hierdie tipe toerisme-infrastruktuur sal nie deur die regering ontwikkel word nie weens ‘n tekort aan die nodige fondse, maar ook nie deur die privaatsektor nie weens die gebrek aan aantreklike winsmarges. Die Wes-Kaap Provinsie het die vyf casinolisensies wat aan die provinsie toegedeel is in terme van die Nationale Dobbelwet gebruik om ‘n impak in die hele Provinsie te maak deur die Provinsie in vyf streke te verdeel met ‘n lisensie toegedeel aan elk van hierdie streke. Kaapstad en die Wes-Kaap het sedert 1994 internasionale prominensie verkry as ‘n internasional toerismebestemming. Dit was egter gou duidelik dat die stad en die streek nie die verwagte stroom van toeriste sal kan hanteer met die gebrek aan hotelkamers en ander toerismeinfrastruktuur nie. Die toerismesektor sal ook in gebreke bly om te groei sonder ander fasilitiete soos ‘n internasionale konferensiesentrum. Die gebrek aan ‘n internasionale konferensiesentrum het gelei daartoe dat Kaapstad konferensies begin verloor het weens die gebrek aan voldoende fasiliteite. Die internasionale konferensie-industrie toon uitstekende geleenthede vir ekonomiese groei deur die konferensieganger besteding en die impak op die ekonomie van Kaapstad en die Wes-Kaap. Die Wes-Kaap het dobbelkriteria ontwikkel wat dit duidelik gemaak het dat casino lisensie-aansoekers daartoe verplig was om toerismeinfrastruktuur by hulle aansoek in te sluit wat sou bydra tot die waardetoevoeging in die onderskeie streke. Dit is ook duidelik gemaak dat sodanige infrastruktuur nie noodwendig fisies aan ‘n casino gekoppel hoef te wees nie en kon ook weg van die casino perseel ontwikkel word. Die beleidskriteria het dit verder ook duidelik gemaak dat alleenstaande casinos nie oorweeg sou word nie. Die ontwikkeling van ‘n internasionale konferensiesentrum het ‘n belangrike beleidsoorweging geword in die toekenning van ‘n casinolisensie in die Kaapse Metropool. Alhoewel casino maatskappye ‘n verskeidenheid infrastruktuurelemente in hul aansoeke ingesluit het (meesal projekte wat ‘n positiewe impak op toerisme sou teweeg bring) het die ontwikkeling van ‘n konferensiesentrum ‘n uiters belangrike oorweging geword in die toekenning van ‘n casino lisensie en die lisensie vir die Kaapse Metropool is derhalwe toegeken aan die maatskappy wat die ontwikkeling van ‘n konferensiesentrum in die suksesvolle aansoek ingesluit het. Alhoewel konferensiesentrums byna nooit winsgewend is nie, skep sodanige sentrums die moontlikheid van stedelike vernuwing en ‘n ekonomiese impak deur die besteding van konferensegangers op hotelle, voedsel, drank, vervoer en algemene toerismebesteding. Die direkte, indirekte en geleide ekonomies impak van hierdie besteding lei daartoe dat die negatiewe sosiale impak afgeskaal word en lei derhalwe daartoe dat die voordele van die wettiging van dobbel verder gevoer word deur projekte wat onwaarskynlik sou wees in die afwesigheid van die toekenning van ‘n casinolisensie. Hierdie studie demonstreer die ekonomiese impak (direk, indirek en geleide) van die Kaapse Internasionale Konferensiesentrum. Die studie demonstreer verder die impak van die studie op die bevordering van toerisme , insluitende konferensiegangers wat na Kaapstad terugkeer vir vakansiedoeleindes. Hierdie impak kulmineer in die gevolgtrekking dat die toekenning van ‘n casinolisensie behoort nie net te lei tot die ontwikkeling van ‘n alleenstaande casino nie, maar ook die ontwikkeling van toerismeinfrastruktuur wat daartoe lei dat die negatiewe sosiale impak afgeskaal word.

In light of the findings of a pilot study by this researcher, entitled a study of the behaviour and strategies of responsible gamblers, it is vital that responsible gambling behaviour in the Eastern Cape be researched more thoroughly. The pilot study found that many ordinary gamblers experience cognitive distortions which may predispose them to varying levels of gambling problems, as well as specific biographical attributes that may determine such an outcome. The present study aims to address the limitations and recommendations put forward by the pilot study, namely its relatively small scale, and lack of generalisability as a result of sampling from a single gambling population. This project set out to assess gambling behaviour, and more so responsible gambling practices, to be able to conclude how, and in what form, responsible gambling takes place. The research was conducted USll1g a sample of one-hundred-and-thirty-seven gamblers from Hemingway's Casino in East London to develop data and establish norms on general gambling behaviour over a week, by administration of a survey questionnaire. The analysis of the data focussed on areas such as the link between gender and gambling behaviour, amount earned and amount spent on gambling, age and gambling trends as well as belief in luck and chances to win. Finally, the strategies (if any) used by gamblers to avoid problem gambling or overspending were assessed, and described by the gamblers themselves, and added to the results of the research. The results indicate that the majority of gamblers in the Eastern Cape are responsible, but many do still exhibit cognitive distortions and other behaviours that might put them at risk for problem gambling. With these results it is possible to provide basic data and information about the nature of gambling in the East London area that can be added to previous (as well as subsequent) studies, in order to build a clearer and more representative picture of the gambling situation in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

This case study presents a comprehensive discussion of economic and administrative impacts of riverboat gaming on a small city, Rising Sun, Indiana. The history of gaming is traced in the United States, Indiana, and Rising Sun. Evidence suggests that most of the impacts in Rising Sun have been positive financially. It allows for upgraded infrastructure, new city building construction and improved community services. Two foundations have been created to help surrounding communities and Rising Sun, as well as an unique revenue sharing plan that encompasses counties and cities beyond Rising Sun and Ohio County. The study also determines that the riverboat casino has not helped existing businesses in the community, and that "economic development" of those businesses has not flourished because of the gaming casino. Administratively, this study does suggest that the casino's revenues and presence has affected changes in the town's leadership, as well as small increases in crime and other social impacts.
Department of Political Science

The proliferation of gaming in America has increasingly brought certain development pressures to bear on historic resources and has been an emerging issue in the field of historic preservation for the last decade. Early experiments to harness gaming as a catalyst for preservation activity in four historic mining communities in South Dakota and Colorado received much attention. More recently, riverboat casinos have affected historic communities throughout the Midwest. From the standpoint of preservation, these examples have had both positive and negative effects for historic resources. This study examines some of the lessons learned and uses them to illuminate the case of Rising Sun, a small rural community in southeastern Indiana with a casino riverboat. The goal is to determine whether gaming development, if properly planned, situated, and regulated, can be a positive force for preservation activity while still maintaining the original character of the host community.
Department of Architecture

Households are nowadays required to make financial decisions of increasing complexity in an increasing number of domains. This thesis explores psychological mechanisms, behavior change interventions, and potential inhibitory factors underlying wise household financial decisions in the domains of gambling advertising and mutual fund investing. In-depth investigations of these two domains were chosen to balance the depth of topic coverage versus the wide breadth of modern financial decision making. UK soccer gambling advertising was investigated via two observational studies and a range of online experiments. The experiments found that soccer fans struggle to form coherent expectations for the complex bets featuring in UK soccer gambling advertising. Mutual fund investors have to balance a number of cues in their investment choices. Normatively, mutual fund investors should minimize fees. However, a number of investors choose to maximize past returns instead. Three chapters investigate how mutual fund fees and financial percentage returns are psychologically processed, in order to uncover beneficial behavior change interventions. Many participants processed percentages additively, rather than follow the correct multiplicative strategy. Both percentages and corresponding “small” currency amounts were associated with systematic biases. Participant responses were closest to the normative strategy when either past returns were framed as a “small” currency amount, or when fees were framed as a 10 year currency amount. “Some people invest based on past performance, but funds with low fees have the highest future results” was the most effective disclaimer at nudging fee-sensitivity against the real world status quo, “Past performance does not predict future results.”

Casino gambling in South Africa was in the past not perceived as a mainstream economic activity but rather a reluctant concession. Consequently, it remained an "exiled industry" geographically isolated and strictly regulated. The rationale for this conceptualisation has varied - from religious objections concerning the immorality and irrationality of gambling, to public concern over the establishment of organised and street crime around casinos themselves. Despite the persistence of these arguments, there has over the past decade been a vast and rapid expansion of the industry throughout both South Africa and the world. It is difficult to precisely pinpoint the rationale for this paradigm shift. Popular explanations emphasise a liberalisation of public values concerning gambling, or changes in modes of governance from paternalistic prohibition to regulatory liberalisation. Many scholarly writings on casino gambling on the other hand, point to a far more sinister political agenda (Hunter and Bleinberger 1995; Rose 1998) that manipulates public perceptions of morality to serve more utilitarian needs. The political expediency of a restricted activity like gambling cannot be discounted. It remains an effective means of attracting capital investment in depressed areas without governments having to offer any quid pro quo. As a regulated industry, a premium is set on immorality, which translates into significant revenue. Gambling in South Africa has so far generated Rl 1,7 billion in investment, and in the 2002/03 financial year generated R526,4 million in tax revenue1. It has also created about 50 000 direct and indirect jobs.2 Without a doubt, in a fledgling democracy, trying to balance growth with redress and redistribution, the macro economic advantages from the gambling industry are immediately apparent but macro economic gains should not be at the expense of the country's poorest or at the expense of the moral, physical and spiritual well-being of society. This study is an attempt to probe the intersections of these sometimes conflicting imperatives on the South African society by looking specifically at the Pietermaritzburg community.
Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The exponential growth of the gambling industry in South Africa has been the consequence of liberalized gambling laws. Casinos that were previously restricted to the homeland regions of the country have now become a common urban phenomenon that is easily accessible. Casino developments are still at an early stage of development, but the wide-scale consumption and popularity of the product has generated numerous debates over the cost and benefits associated with the industry. Whilst proponents of casino developments tend to emphasize the economic benefits, the opponents highlight the inevitable social costs, generated by the industry. The aim of this study is to determine the social and economic impacts of the Sugar Mill Casino and the Golden Horse Casino on the Mount Edgecombe and Pietermaritzburg communities respectively. These impacts have been assessed by making use of both quantitative and qualitative data sources. The findings suggests that both the Golden Horse Casino and the Sugar Mill Casino have afforded their respective communities economic benefits and growth opportunities in the form of firstly, the initial capital investment of the casinos, and secondly, by the subsequent revenues generated by the industry. However, the industry has also generated social costs that have been encountered mainly by those individuals who do not have control over their gambling practices, and are thus classified as problem gamblers. Problem gambling tendencies result in a host of psychological, financial and physical repercussions that are manifested at a personal and interpersonal level. If the casino gambling industry is expected to be of any benefit to the Pietermaritzburg and Mount Edgecombe regions, the economic gains of the industry have to be maximized whilst ensuring that the negative social cost remain minimal. Balancing these impacts remains imperative to the mutual sustainability of the casinos and their respective communities.
Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.

This chapter analyzes the signifying potential of gambling and casino culture as a seminal feature of James Bond-ness and the 007-universe. It argues that gambling and casinos, both of which are updated with every new outing of James Bond, have important cultural, political and economic ramifications. In particular, the chapter asks how and what casino gambling signifies as it is updated in Skyfall (2012), in terms of the film’s mise-en-scène as well as its geopolitical configuration as a colonizing industry in a global economy that is increasingly dependent on various forms of gambling. Finally, the chapter connects various aspects of what has been referred to as “cinematic revisionism” to the politics and economics of neoliberalization, 007, and global casino culture.

The introduction of social networks (Facebook, Twitter, google+, Instagram, Youtube, Whatsapp, Tik Tok, Linkedin, etc.) is the largest transition in the history of mankind, in terms of dissemination of information since Gutenberg began printing. Its "passing pawns" are efficiency, mass character and instantaneous distribution. The behavior of people and their relationships social networks took on a strong "boarding". Before our eyes, a process is taking place when an increasing part of the population is changing the "Party of the TV" to the "Party of the Internet." Social networks have significantly narrowed, and in fact put an end to, the monopoly of television in the formation of public opinion. Moreover, they, in particular Facebook, having overcome the barriers of almost any censorship, have turned the globe into one "global village". This is actually the "agora" of the twenty-first century. They adequately continued the process of "levelling" between the rich and the poor in terms of access to news, entertainment, shows, provided earlier by traditional media (press, radio, television). The Internet began, and the social network accelerated an unprecedented language revolution, rooted or filled with new meaning in everyday life “traditional” words, terms or phrases: hashtag, selfie, trolling, ban, chat, blog, avatar, meme, gif, etc. Over-reliance on the Internet and social media has become a global disease that surpasses the most acute, formidable pandemics in human history in scale. This means that excessive dependence on social networks is too similar to gambling addiction - the repetition of the same actions for a long time and a weakened perception of time, the replacement of real life and activity with virtual ... The development of information technology is “encouraging” by stuffing more and more new functions and expanding the range of possibilities of smartphone functions, which further strengthens people's attachment to them and the social and psychological problems associated with it. At the same time, the development of dialectics suggests that the time is not far off when the opposite trend will also appear: the desire for liberation from excessive dependence on the Internet and gadgets, as a measure of true freedom. The time will come when such freedom will be as prestigious as owning a personal computer or a mobile phone a few decades ago... Keywords: Internet, Social network, Facebook, Information, Addiction.