Browsing by Author "McKay, Christine"
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- ItemOpen AccessBook Review: Gambling: Who Wins? Who Loses?(eCOMMUNITY: International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, 2005-05-02) McKay, Christine; Lesieur, Henry R.Gambling: Who Wins? Who Loses? is a thought-provoking collection of essays, written largely by international experts in the gambling field, that analyze the complex cultural, economic and social issues that have emerged as a result of the legalization and expansion of commercial gambling globally. Editor Gerda Reith, author of The Age of Chance: Gambling in Western Culture (2002), succeeds in her objective of stimulating informed debate. Reith presents a diverse range of topics and opinion that highlight historical and current trends in gambling activity from legal, political, economic, social, psychological and ethical perspectives. The book, which includes an introduction by Reith, is divided into seven sections: (a) current trends in commercial gaming; (b) social and economic benefits and costs; (c) law, crime and commercial regulation; (d) the "addiction" debate; (e) social trends, problem gambling, and the challenge to public policy; (f) psychological and environmental factors; and (g) ethical and philosophical issues. This accessible volume, like any good anthology, presents a multi-faceted picture of gambling activity without providing easy answers to the complex political and social issues that are raised. The articles found in Gambling: Who Wins? Who Loses? reflect contemporary thinking about the social and economic costs and benefits of gambling activity and will appeal to students, academics and professionals, as well as a more general readership, interested in the topics addressed by these authors.
- ItemOpen AccessDouble Jeopardy: Older Women and Problem Gambling(eCOMMUNITY: International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction, 2005-11-21) McKay, ChristineThe growth in legal gambling in North America, indeed worldwide, has been dramatic in the last three decades. Increased availability of gambling opportunities, as well as social acceptability, has led to a huge growth in the number of older adults who are gambling. Between 1975 and 1998, a large study by the University of Chicago found that the number of older adults (65+) gambling had more than doubled (National Opinion Research Center [NORC], 1999). Research on older adults who gamble or who have gambling problems is just starting to emerge and little is known specifically about older women who gamble, why they gamble or how many are at risk for developing problems. In this article, the existing literature on older women, here defined as including women 55 years and older, and problem gambling will be reviewed. Risk factors associated with age and gender, as well as gambling industry marketing strategies and electronic game machine factors, may place older women at heightened risk for developing gambling problems, especially related to electronic gaming machines (EGMs)1. Problem gambling is a "very, very hidden issue" (McNeilly, 2000, as cited in Berns, 1998) amongst the older adult population and research suggests that older women are even less likely to seek help. More research is necessary to inform public awareness campaigns, treatment interventions and social policies regarding older women and gambling.