Games, betting and lotteries: gambling Italians (2000)
Italians are gambling more and more. The underlying reason is a lack of confidence in society. In our Country there is a lack of gaming culture, which in our opinion implies a greater awareness of the risks inherent in the practice of gaming. The immature practice of Italians towards gaming is certainly the most delicate point of the issue. The discourse explores the notion of “addiction”, exploring its many aspects, and in particular the symmetrical obstacles of condemnation (gambling as an authentic choice) and discharging (gambling as a disease). These remarks are deepened in the first chapter, elaborating on them in the light of the dichotomy of Chance and Ability, in which the study of Videopoker as a social phenomenon fits in well. In the second chapter, the data obtained through the field research, which represented an important moment in the realisation of this study, are analysed. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 1,000 Italian citizens, representative of the national reality. An extremely varied portrait of the player emerged, or rather a wide range of portraits. It was possible to get a detailed picture of the Italians’ attitude towards gambling. This is why, given the complexity of the subject, it was considered opportune to divide the following chapter, inherent to the in-depth examination of legal games in Italy, into specific fact sheets. In the fourth chapter, the most controversial issues related to Videopoker were examined in depth. In particular, the legislative analysis has highlighted the major inconsistencies in the current legislation on the issue.
Index
Contents
Introduction
CHAPTER I
Italians, gaming and video poker
Preface
A great desire to play
Risk!
One in a thousand makes it
Si par hasard
Less freedom, less necessity, more chance
The Lottery in Babylon
Chance as a front for justice
The lottery of survival
Gold fever
Entertainment versus gambling
A Non-Free Game
Demonisation
Addiction
How much freedom
The Gambler
CHAPTER II
Our investigation
Foreword
Italians’ attitudes towards gambling: the “gender” factor
Italians’ attitude towards gaming: the “age” factor
Italians’ attitude towards gaming: the “territory” factor
Italians’ attitude towards gaming: the “education level” factor
Attitudes of Italians towards gaming: the “marital status” factor
Attitudes of Italians towards gambling: the “player/non-player” factor
CHAPTER III
The state of gambling
General Data
Card 1. Lotto and SuperEnalotto
Card 2. Lotteries
Card 3. One, ics, two…
Card 4. Tris and Totip
Sheet 5. Betting
Sheet 6. Casinos
CHAPTER IV
Videopoker
Game mechanics and social perception
The legislative aspect between entertainment and gambling
When gambling really becomes gambling
Current legislation in some European countries
What should be done?
Analysis of the costs and benefits of automated entertainment in Italy: the current context
The regulatory framework
The economic data of the sector
The evolution of the phenomenon
The most significant effects on the different categories of subjects involved
A new discipline for fun-games
The reasons for a new intervention of the legislator
The structure of the new law
The most significant effects on the different categories of subjects involved
Final remarks