Social and economic impacts of poker machine gambling on stakeholders

Poker Machines: Hitting it big or a big hit

It is the dream of every slot player who walks into the casino to hit the big one. It is a thrilling thought in which the player always begins with the fantasy of lining up all the winning symbols and carrying the winnings for spending. However, as the play continues, reality sets in, and deep within the dream become doubts as one realizes that there is more chance of the lightening striking than there is of hitting the jackpot. The reality is the chances of hitting it big are astronomical. However, despite this knowledge, people still engage in the gamble. The issue thus becomes the social and economic impacts that gambling has on the society, the gambler, the industry and the government at large (Orford, 2010). Various stakeholders in practice have varying perspectives of the issue at hand. The issue continues to raise debates as to the legality and moral aspect of the practice in view of the impacts on the stakeholders. Thus, it is imperative to examine the issue and its impacts to arrive at a constructive conclusion or recommendation.

Why this is an issue of justice or the common good

Gambling is remarkably diverse in nature, a factor that makes it so attractive and irresistible. Initially, going to the poker machines was an act of entertainment, for the pleasure of enjoying the thrill of winning after a hard day work. However, currently, people turned it into a form of investment, in which they invest their time and money trying to hit the jackpot (Doeden, 2010). This resulted into the aspect of addiction creeping into the once harmless entertainment field. The players who participate regularly get addicted to the game. This leads them to investing their entire earnings into gambling, rather than helping the family in meeting essential responsibilities. This thus, complicates the society, as it affects the development of the society negatively. Families suffer when the breadwinner has an addiction for poker machines, in which he never wins. The government on the contrary, as well as, the hotel industry, continues to earn revenues and benefits at the expense of the society (Viviers & Nel, 2012). The family and person gambling suffer most from this addiction into poker games. Thus, gambling is an issue of social justice.

The perspective of the stakeholders

The stakeholders in the issue include people who participate in the practice. These are the gambler, the group facilitating the activity, in which case are restaurants and hotels, comprising the hotel industry, and the government who legalize the issue. These stakeholders have their varied perspectives as to why they contribute to the issue.

The Gambler

To the gambler, the opportunity to enter to the casino, or place with the slot machines is thrilling enough to eliminate all fears for losing the gamble. The gambler only has one vision in mind, and that is to make a life changing winning. This drives them into going overboard with the gambles, to the extent of gambling off all their monthly earnings. Gambling for the person is not an issue as they always think they have control and can quit as they decide. However, they only realize it is an addiction when the reality of the impacts starts setting in, affecting them and the society around them. The impacts to the family of the gambler are severe, especially if there are children. The family lacks the financial support they should be receiving from the member (Wright, 2012). Additionally, the person may lose their job and thus become an irresponsible drunkard. These are possible consequences of gambling that the gambler does not envision while they are engaging the poker machines. The society loses an individual who would contribute significantly if they engaged the right gear towards developing their community. The gambler only sees the thrill of the win and drive the life changing winning would have on the person and the society. Critically, the gambler is the target in issue as the hotel and government only focus in their attaining benefits. Therefore, it is for the gambler to rise and see the reality, rather than the mere void joy of winnings that will never be. They are the vulnerable parties in this association.

The State Government

The government is also a significant stakeholder in the subject of gambling and the poker machines. Initially, gambling was a crime as it presented dens for criminals and fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting players. However, as time progressed and civilization, as well as, the theory of capitalism developed, the government realized the looming opportunity to generate revenue from the gambling dens. The government saw it as a lucrative business venture, through which it could generate revenue through taxation of the industry and the winnings of the players (Pathological gambling, 2010). Therefore, the government taxes twice from this game. The taxes are in large sums; thus, the government is significantly benefiting from the misery of the players. The government further went ahead to initiate regulations defining the process of hosting the poker machines. These regulations, it aims to ensure that those engaging in the act are adults, who are responsible for their actions. Therefore, to the government perspective, gambling is not an issue of concern as such. It is an industry that earns the government revenue through taxation.

The issue in terms of social justice, the common good and the principles that promote human flourishing

The common good comprises all conditions of society that facilitate the securing of goods; while facilitating human flourishing. According to social justice theory, all humans disserve equal treatment; hence, the establishment of the human rights bills in the constitution. In the issue of gambling and its social impact, various factors and principles apply for social justice, common good and human flourishing of all stakeholders in the issue.

The Gambler

To the gambler, there are various aspects of the issue affecting their common good and principles of flourishing. While the thought of winning brings a thrill of the investment in spending the winning, the reality is they are losing more. The impact of the game to the entity entails the loss of human dignity. It is likely that the person who gambles also drinks heavily. Additionally, gambling addiction leads to the loss of job and neglect of family and social responsibilities (Momper, 2010). However, it is essential to understand that this person has rights that guard their common good. As such, for human flourishing, there ought to be respect for the rights of the person, facilitation of their social welfare and peace and security. The society has a mandate to facilitate the social welfare of this person for them to flourish. To protect them from fraud and the addiction of the games, the society can assist in rehabilitation of the people. The family is a community institution, thus, counseling sessions for the person can help facilitate their well-being and development in the path of flourishing. The property rights can help the person guard their property from the bets that people make while playing poker. Additionally, after counseling, the people need an alternative for the addiction; thus, social welfare can establish programs for people to entertain themselves without playing such addictive games. The common good and social justice obligates public to respect and promote human rights, while fulfilling their vocation. Therefore, implementing these expectations will assist the gambling person to flourish in the society and establishing their social welfare and common good.

The Hotel Industry

The industry globally acknowledges that the gambling machines are an essential aspect of entertainment. Gambling is a practice accepted widely across the globe, with many federal governments drafting laws and regulations to facilitate the casinos. The common good of the issue to the hotel is that it prospers the owners of the hotel industries and their employees. This facilitates the welfare of the society, promoting human flourishing. The owners of hotels and the gambling machines benefit from the earnings of the players. Additionally, these machines provide employment to the people who work within these hotels to manage the machines (Blaszczynski, Collins, Fong, Ladouceur, Nower, Shaffer & Venisse, 2011). However, in view of the common good of the community, the issue does not meet the social principles and requirements of any business venture benefiting the customer. In business ethics, a business provides service to the customer, satisfying their needs while getting the profits. However, in the case of the poker machines, the hotel industry exploits the customer for its own benefit; this beats the principle of respecting the fundamental rights of the people. Therefore, the issue does have many negative features related to it and the hotel industry overlooks these common good responsibilities and principles of human flourishing. However, the industry does not want to change the practice due to the gains involved. Gambling presents millions of earnings to the hotel industry, thus, the reason they cannot relish the practice for the common good and development of the society.

The State Government

The government has the mandate to protect the people from all activities that endanger their lives. It has the social responsibility to ensure that citizens do not engage in activities and dealings that influence their social life negatively. It has the duty to ensure social progression and development in the community. This is a fundamental principle of human flourishing in the society. However, by legalizing the poker machines, the government is failing in its function to act in the common good of the citizens (Parmalee, 2011). The principles of regulating businesses to secure the rights of consumers do not apply in this case. The government overlooks the numerous negative impacts that gambling has on the players. It allows the hotel industry to establish ventures that do not benefit the community positively. The government argues that the casinos provide revenue through the heavy taxation, aimed to deter the poor from participating. However, it is surprising that the poor who desire to get rich easily are the most vulnerable in engaging in gambling (Statement from Richard, 2011). Therefore, the government, although it provides the regulations to guide the process of establishing these gambling games, the fact is it is failing in its duty to the community to protect them. The reason it does not relish the practice and change for the common good of the society is the huge revenue it earns from gambling dens. The revenue is reason enough for the government to legalize gambling games.

How to serve the common good in relation to the issue

The common good of all stakeholders in the issue is diverse as the parties have different interest. All the stakeholders have the sole intention of gaining benefit from the issue. However, it is clear that they all are failing in meeting their social responsibilities and honoring the principles of human flourishing. Therefore, to serve in the common good of all, it is essential to establish better gaming options, other than gambling for the gamblers (Hancock, O'Neil & Alfred 2010). Educating them and rehabilitating them through counseling from gambling is a good starting point. The gamblers need to realize that the poker machines will never tilt the odds to their favor. Therefore, for their common good, they should stop gambling. For the hotel industry, gambling brings profit. However, it is negating the lives of many unsuspecting gamblers. Therefore, to meet the social responsibility of promoting development and human flourishing in the society, they should develop other gaming and entertainment options with fewer risks. They should eliminate gambling services. The government played into the hands of the enemy by engaging in regulating the act of gambling. It should draft laws that ban the act of gambling in the hotel industry, thus acting for the common good to the issue and ensuring social justice. This way, the citizens will engage in constructive activities of hard work to achieve the levels of success they desire. This way, they will be playing to the common good of the community and ensuring they flourish in their lives. These are the ways in which the common good for human flourishing can be served.