Ethics of Gambling?

Abstract

This exclusive department is created to include findings of special significance and to identify areas of subtle research nuances through mutual debates, discourse and discussions. Elenctic method is used wherein knowledge progresses through articulation, cross-examination and rejection of spurious hypotheses. Thus, probe aims at encouraging scholars to think against the grain by unmasking the stereotype and dogmatic that has taken the mould of research conservatism. Contact the Editor-in-chief for more details.

Context

Gambling is one of the most controversial leisure activities in contemporary society. Despite its far-reaching popularity, many negative cultural and social implications have been attributed to gambling. In contrast, numerous destinations look to legalization and expansion of gambling businesses to rejuvenate their declining economies, particularly in times of escalating competition between tourism destinations. Nevertheless, in the lead essay of this research probe, Amir Shani argued that with respect to gambling studies, tourism scholarship has overly focused on cost-benefit analyses and residents' attitudes toward gambling, while neglecting imperative philosophical questions that are essential in addressing the ethics of gambling. Shani presents an ethical assessment of gambling, which evaluates the strengths, validity and accuracy of some of the prominent ethical arguments against its legalization. His conclusion is that the anti-gambling position cannot be ethically justified, as its application substantially infringes upon fundamental individual rights and civil liberties, and allows for the use of excessive authority of society over the individual. The responses by Chhabra and Fong, Leung and Law suggest a pragmatic approach, according to which the focus should be directed on developing means to mitigate or minimize the gambling-related externalities and the unethical expressions of gambling. The third respondent, Belle Gavriel-Fried, contributed to the research probe by providing an intriguing analysis of the social, political and economic forces that drive the gambling discourse and the various positions on the subject matter. Shani addresses these rejoinders by asserting that despite of their valuable contribution, an ethical discussion on legalization of gambling cannot be truly comprehensive without the consideration of broader philosophical issues.