Book Review: Gambling: Who Wins? Who Loses?

Abstract

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.