Gambling as an Extractive Industry & the Moral Jeopardy it Generates Peter J. Adams, 2008 School of Population Health University of Auckland

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008

Expansion of Commercial Gambling Major societal changeMajor societal change Impacts socially & economicallyImpacts socially & economically Also impacts on political ecologyAlso impacts on political ecology Links with expansion globallyLinks with expansion globally

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008

Wellington Auckland Christchurch

Gambling Expenditure in NZ Source: Department of Internal Affairs ( Excluding bingo & raffles)

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Gambling Expenditure in NZ Source: Department of Internal Affairs ( Excluding bingo & raffles)

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Gambling Expenditure in NZ Source: Department of Internal Affairs ( Excluding bingo & raffles)

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Gambling Expenditure in NZ Source: Department of Internal Affairs ( Excluding housie & raffles) INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT PUBLIC HEALTH POLITICAL ECOLOGY REGULATION LIBERALISATION NORMALISATION

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008

Ecological Perspective… Gambling as an extractive industryGambling as an extractive industry No substantial productNo substantial product Extraction within current systemsExtraction within current systems Those systems in turn are affectedThose systems in turn are affected

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008

Drivers for Native Logging Governments interested in profits from large scale extractionGovernments interested in profits from large scale extraction Multinational ability to maximize profit potentialMultinational ability to maximize profit potential Entrepreneurs quick to recognize profit potentialEntrepreneurs quick to recognize profit potential Rapid expansion relies on absence of popular oppositionRapid expansion relies on absence of popular opposition

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Degradation of natural ecology Degradation of socio-political ecology With Rapid Expansion ofExtractive Industries comes… With Rapid Expansion of Extractive Industries comes…

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Gambling Expenditure in NZ Source: Department of Internal Affairs ( Excluding bingo & raffles) REGULATION LIBERALISATION NORMALISATIONWORRY

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Money Builds Relationships Money exchange forges ongoing connectionsMoney exchange forges ongoing connections Establishes expectations and obligationsEstablishes expectations and obligations Reinforced by multiple exchangesReinforced by multiple exchanges Links cut across other relationshipsLinks cut across other relationships

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Where are they leading? What are the risks? Can they be reversed? What are the long term prospects for these profit- driven relationships?

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008  Moral & ethical dilemmas generated by receiving gambling funds  Environments promoting high industry connectedness  Conflicted relationships very likely  Multiple traps for the naïve, greedy & fearful

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Risks in Accepting Profits 1.Ethical risks 2.Reputational risks 3.Governance risks 4.Relationship risks

Centre for Gambling Studies, Ethical Risks Trying to do good from sources that do harmTrying to do good from sources that do harm Majority of gambling funds from low income families & problem gamblersMajority of gambling funds from low income families & problem gamblers Credentialing providers (improving public profile)Credentialing providers (improving public profile) Contributing to salesContributing to sales

Centre for Gambling Studies, Reputational Risks How link is judged by othersHow link is judged by others Collegial disapprovalCollegial disapproval Consumer discomfortConsumer discomfort Government agency ambivalenceGovernment agency ambivalence

Centre for Gambling Studies, Governance Risks Creeping relianceCreeping reliance Perception of vulnerabilityPerception of vulnerability Threatens independence & sovereigntyThreatens independence & sovereignty Perceived reliance leads to silence & compliancePerceived reliance leads to silence & compliance

Centre for Gambling Studies, Relationship Risks Between colleaguesBetween colleagues In larger organisations, between sections & levelsIn larger organisations, between sections & levels Potential loss of voice, loss of interest, loss of staffPotential loss of voice, loss of interest, loss of staff

How to respond to gambling profit-driven increases in moral jeopardy?

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008

Intensity of Relationship Continuum of Moral Jeopardy

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Low Risk Moderate Risk High Risk Extremely Primary Concern

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Moral Jeopardy & Loss of Voice Community charities receiving significant funds from pokie trustsCommunity charities receiving significant funds from pokie trusts Researchers with gambling funding avoiding “rocking the boat”Researchers with gambling funding avoiding “rocking the boat” Government agency managing funds from gamblingGovernment agency managing funds from gambling Newspapers relying heavily on funding from gambling advertisingNewspapers relying heavily on funding from gambling advertising Politicians & political parties accepting or influencing distributionPoliticians & political parties accepting or influencing distribution

Low Moral Jeopardy Environments Principle 1: Ethical consciousnessPrinciple 1: Ethical consciousness Moral jeopardy awareness raising activitiesMoral jeopardy awareness raising activities E.g. workshops with governance boardsE.g. workshops with governance boards Principle 2: Informed participationPrinciple 2: Informed participation Requirements for disclosure of funding sourcesRequirements for disclosure of funding sources E.g. web-based observatory tracking moneyE.g. web-based observatory tracking money Principle 3: Independence of functionPrinciple 3: Independence of function Reduction in reliance on gambling fundingReduction in reliance on gambling funding E.g. seek reductions in gambling profitsE.g. seek reductions in gambling profits Principle 4: Government duty of carePrinciple 4: Government duty of care Benchmark standards regarding conflicts of interestBenchmark standards regarding conflicts of interest E.g. adherence to international charterE.g. adherence to international charter

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Concluding Remarks Long term environment of high moral jeopardyLong term environment of high moral jeopardy Compromises community & government sectorCompromises community & government sector Subtle degradation of democratic systemsSubtle degradation of democratic systems Future obligations to devise safeguardsFuture obligations to devise safeguards

Centre for Gambling Studies, 2008 Adams, P. J. (2007). Assessing whether to receive funding support from tobacco, alcohol, gambling and other dangerous consumption industries. Addiction, 102(7), 1027–1033. Adams, P. J. & Rossen, F. (2006). Reducing the moral jeopardy associated with receiving funds from the proceeds of gambling. Journal of Gambling Issues, Issue 17, August 2006 Adams, P. J. Gambling, Freedom and Democracy. New York: Routledge (Jan 2008) More material…