Greetings from the International Gambling Conference held in Auckland! The first
conference day is over and I must say that not only the keynote speakers and the
other speakers gave me new ideas, but I also got a little bit emotional after having
listened to the life stories of problem gamblers and one concerned significant other.
The day started with welcoming speeches: I always look forward listening to Rangi
McLean, because even though I don't understand Maori, I feel the welcoming spirit.
Then it was time for cultural perspectives on problem gambling. Dr. Wong talked
about cultural beliefs and misinterpretations that he has dealt with during his career
as a counsellor. Individuals interpret religious texts and proverbs to justify their
gambling, but they misinterpret the initial meaning of the words and they forget
that it is possible to think otherwise. Ben Taufua represented the Pacific people
and made a powerful speech about the future of the Samoans. Research on problem
gambling should not be only about money games, gambling behaviors and harms
related to gambling. In the case of minorities, problem gambling should be
seen as a part of a larger social, cultural and political context, which reveals the
causes of migration, the current status of the minority as an ethnic group
and the impact of difference (e.g. discrimination, exclusion) on this group. Professor
Denise Wilson spoke about the challenges that Maoris encounter as
indigenous and referred to Laurie Morrison's research on problem gambling
among Maori women.
Dr. Darrell Manitowabi made an excellent presentation on indigenous
casinos and their meaning as a form of decolonization or self-government.
He emphasized that in the case of the Anishinaabeg communities (Canada),
people gambled (cf. the moccasin game, lacrosse) before they were colonized.
When Manitowabi was a child, people played bingo in churches (clearly
after the service). But the example of indigenous casinos indicated that
indigenous gambling is a "double-edged sword": casinos may become
a mechanism for socio-economic development, but they also generate
problem gambling issues in the communities.
The panelists of the Consumers' Voices were simply courageous. Their
life stories made me think how it is important to listen to problem gamblers
and their significant others, give them a voice in a panel or by doing
research. Statistics give us information of prevalence rates and estimates
on how many individuals are affected by gambling problems. Consumers
behind the statistics have personal experience of gambling and problem
gambling and they should be heard more often - not only by researchers,
but especially by politicians and representatives of organizations that
are funded by gambling companies.
The day ended with the screening of "Ka-ching! Pokie nation"
by LookingGlassPictures. Here is the trailer of the documentary:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhD9NzJsWps
The International Gambling Conference is one the best conferences
in the field. The high quality of the presentations, many interesting keynote
speakers and no representatives of the gambling industry around make the
ICG an event that attract researchers, experts and professionals from all
over the world.
conference day is over and I must say that not only the keynote speakers and the
other speakers gave me new ideas, but I also got a little bit emotional after having
listened to the life stories of problem gamblers and one concerned significant other.
The day started with welcoming speeches: I always look forward listening to Rangi
McLean, because even though I don't understand Maori, I feel the welcoming spirit.
Then it was time for cultural perspectives on problem gambling. Dr. Wong talked
about cultural beliefs and misinterpretations that he has dealt with during his career
as a counsellor. Individuals interpret religious texts and proverbs to justify their
gambling, but they misinterpret the initial meaning of the words and they forget
that it is possible to think otherwise. Ben Taufua represented the Pacific people
and made a powerful speech about the future of the Samoans. Research on problem
gambling should not be only about money games, gambling behaviors and harms
related to gambling. In the case of minorities, problem gambling should be
seen as a part of a larger social, cultural and political context, which reveals the
causes of migration, the current status of the minority as an ethnic group
and the impact of difference (e.g. discrimination, exclusion) on this group. Professor
Denise Wilson spoke about the challenges that Maoris encounter as
indigenous and referred to Laurie Morrison's research on problem gambling
among Maori women.
Dr. Darrell Manitowabi made an excellent presentation on indigenous
casinos and their meaning as a form of decolonization or self-government.
He emphasized that in the case of the Anishinaabeg communities (Canada),
people gambled (cf. the moccasin game, lacrosse) before they were colonized.
When Manitowabi was a child, people played bingo in churches (clearly
after the service). But the example of indigenous casinos indicated that
indigenous gambling is a "double-edged sword": casinos may become
a mechanism for socio-economic development, but they also generate
problem gambling issues in the communities.
The panelists of the Consumers' Voices were simply courageous. Their
life stories made me think how it is important to listen to problem gamblers
and their significant others, give them a voice in a panel or by doing
research. Statistics give us information of prevalence rates and estimates
on how many individuals are affected by gambling problems. Consumers
behind the statistics have personal experience of gambling and problem
gambling and they should be heard more often - not only by researchers,
but especially by politicians and representatives of organizations that
are funded by gambling companies.
The day ended with the screening of "Ka-ching! Pokie nation"
by LookingGlassPictures. Here is the trailer of the documentary:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhD9NzJsWps
The International Gambling Conference is one the best conferences
in the field. The high quality of the presentations, many interesting keynote
speakers and no representatives of the gambling industry around make the
ICG an event that attract researchers, experts and professionals from all
over the world.
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