Ethical Problems of Gambling Gambling can become a serious addiction and just as serious as alcohol or drug abuse. Some find gambling to be a distraction taking them away from the problems of their everyday life. Many examples of gambling are sports betting and casinos, which are illegal in most states, horse betting, card playing, playing the lottery and now there are websites for betting online. According to Little (2011), “The ability to fund the activity through online bank transactions and credit cards contributes to addictive online gambling” (para. 3). For those that have an addiction to gambling, online games and websites, makes it harder for them to resist the urge to gamble as well as making it easier for them to gamble, since they can now do it in the privacy of their home.
All of these examples can prove problematic. The whole idea of gambling can lead to an array of problems for the individual and their loved ones by causing ethical and moral problems for all involved. With gambling there can be an extensive amount of debt, loss of employment, lying, stealing, mental anguish, not only for the participant of the gambling, but for their families as well. These actions and their consequences can sometimes rip families apart.
Gambling can also cause numerous ethical problems for society as a whole. Gambling can be a magnet for crime, ruin work ethic, and attract prostitution. Price J. (2006) stated “Crime predictably rises three to four years following the opening of a casino as problem and pathological gamblers begin to deplete their resources” (p. 1). With a person’s serious addiction to gambling, they will use any means necessary to feed their addiction. Some will commit assault, rob, and may even go as far as murder to get the money they need to fulfill their needs. With the
References: Mosser, K. (2010). Introduction to ethics and social responsibility. San Diego, Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu (Section 1.8, Paragraph 22). Price, J. (2006, August 21). Gambling – Crime. Retrieved from http://erlc.com/article/gambling-crime/. (p.1). Regis, Jr., E. (1980, October). What is Ethical Egoism? Ethics, Vol. 91, No. 1, pp. 50-62. Published by: The University of Chicago Press