Behind the allure of gambling: A qualitative exploration of the existential yearnings of Chinese men with problem gambling in Hong Kong

Abstract

Drawing on a qualitative exploratory study of the gambling narratives of a group of Chinese men with problem gambling in Hong Kong, this paper proposes an alternative understanding of problem gambling. Rather than identifying problem gambling as a personal deficit or pathology, a narrative analysis of these Chinese men's gambling stories reveals their existential yearnings behind problem gambling. Told from the perspectives of these men, their gambling narratives invite us as researchers and practitioners to explore the meanings gamblers ascribe to gambling which they derived from the interplay between the socioeconomic and cultural ethos of the society and their personal histories. This offers us new insights into their motivations of gambling. As an attempt to fill the methodological gap in gambling studies, this paper also shows how an in-depth narrative research method can contribute to expanding our understanding of problem gambling beyond pathology.

Keywords:

• narrative analysis
• problem gambling
• gender
• mindfulness
• qualitative research methodology

Acknowledgement

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Caritas Addicted Gamblers Counseling Centre and Mr. Mak Kui-hoi for their professional support throughout this project.

Notes

1. The research design and ethics were reviewed and approved respectively by a Research Review Panel of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and of the agency of which the collaborating gambling counselling centre was part.

2. Immediately following the study group, seven of the eight participants abstained from gambling. One reduced his frequency of gambling. Twenty months later in a group reunion, all reported having quitted gambling and maintained abstinence.