Mass gambling and crime

The purpose of the article is to identify and analyse concrete forms of connections between mass gambling and crime. The concept of gambling is defined as an integral part of the contemporary touristic offer. Two basic trends or types of gambling are described in detail, American and European, and their basic characteristics explained. The central part of the article is devoted to an analysis of the social and economic consequences of gambling, with an emphasis on the American type of gambling, a professional term for mass gambling. In dealing with the social consequences of gambling, the authors highlight in particular changes in the demographic structure of the population, changes of values and attitudes towards gambling, traffic, public services, problem gambling, family disruption and suicide. The paper provides a detailed analysis of the relationship between gambling and crime and presents basic criminological theories that explain a hypothetical causal effect of the link between gambling and crime. In an analysis of the potential economic and social impact of the construction of a large gambling and entertainment centre in the Gorizia region, Slovenia, which was carried out with the methodology of the National Opinion Research Center from the USA, the authors devoted particular attention to investigation of the social costs of gambling. In the conclusion, the authors highlight the positive economic and negative social effects of gambling and its potential impact on crime. The paper also indicates further possibilities of research in this field.