Gambling has become increasingly available in the UK following the Gambling Act 2005. You might have come across advertisements for gambling which were previously forbidden and have been now allowed by the new legislation. Some people believe that the Chinese community will be particularly affected by the increase in gambling availability. I am a PhD student in Anthropology at Goldsmiths, University of London and I am interested in gambling among London’s Chinese community. The first question I’ve been asking myself is: are people right to believe that Chinese people are more likely to gamble than the rest of the UK population or is it just the projection of a stereotype that Chinese people are always busy making money? What do you think?

You may not be a gambler, but I don’t want to limit my study to hard-core gamblers. I actually want to make sure that I represent the Chinese community in its vast diversity, even taking into account those who feel more British (or something else) than Chinese. First, I believe that although you might have never gambled or only gamble occasionally, you still might have experienced gambling around you, and as such you probably know more about it than you think. I am interested in hearing about your experience, or maybe just what you have to say about gambling or how the gambling of people around you might have an impact on your life.

Secondly, I really want to avoid stereotyping Chinese as gamblers. Some Chinese people might be gamblers but I also want to show that Chinese people can also be defined by carrying out all sorts of other activities (Chinese people might also be actors, lawyers, artists, mothers, etc). As a result, I am very much interested in finding out which activities (work as much as leisure activities) you believe define you as a person and how this is linked to your part of ‘Chineseness’ however you imagine it.

If you are interested in sharing your views, experiences and stories directly with me, I’ll be delighted to hear about them. Please drop me a line by email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it and I’ll be in touch with you. I also warmly encourage you to contribute to the debate I’ve initiated on the forum.

Claire Loussouarn

Image from http://flickr.com/photos/fictures/7285494/

 

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rurenyingshui Posted 13:38 on 1 February 2008 why it is so quiet here?! I am a Chinese and know many Chinese older people are very keen on going to casinos. In Golden Nugget, you can see lots of Chinese men and women, the place looks like a social club for Chinese. Yes, I've got the impression that gambling is more prevalent in the Chinese community. Why? I guess it's because Chinese love money. Reply | Quote

Susan S. Cheung Posted 19:23 on 1 February 2008 I've grown up with seeing Chinese people gamble - mahjong at people's houses and in the casinos - and regard it quite philosophically. I think many factors contribute to Chinese gambling, not least it's something within our character/culture, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's an addiction - look at the thousands who go to the horse racing in Hong Kong and speculate on the Hong Kong Stock Market. We are business people and entrepreneurs and take risks with business, but also work extemely hard. I think the culture of Chinese in the casinos has grown through them being some of the only places open for Chinese to go and relax who work in the takeaways and restaurants after they finish work late at night. Yes, there are hardened gamblers who go bankrupt and gamble away their hard-earned money to dire consequences, but for many people, my parents included, it's more like a social club, where there are other people who speak their language. My mum goes and plays mahjohng for small change with her "buddies" now she's retired (yes, they have mahjong clubs and tables at some casinos) - all ladies, grandmothers in their 60s and they play so they can gossip like a regular "Joy Luck Club"! My father, also retired, goes and meets his friends and chats; he doesn't gamble at all. Membership of some casinos means you can have free meals and he goes to eat and sometimes they do these deals where you get a stamp in a passbook everytime you go and, if you get so many stamps, you get a free gift. He's picked up many "goodies", such as small electronics, gift certificates to shops, free meals, etc. There are also many of the second-generation who go to the casinos for various reasons. I've been with my parents and watched people gamble and had a meal, and have never even been tempted to place a small bet. Many older and younger Chinese don't go to casinos at all, but they may play mahjong at home at Christmas or Chinese New Year or when they have guests. Is that gambling or socializing? For the most part, mahjong played in the family is like getting out a board game and playing scrabble. So I don't think just because you see Chinese people at casinos or playing mahjong that gambling is prevalent in the culture. That attitude would be way too simplistic and stereotypical. Reply | Quote

Mr Lo S. Form of Wit - good question Posted 11:13 on 4 February 2008 Do Chinese people like to gamble? Ask anyone who works in a Casino. I have noticed, when I have visited casinos up and down the UK, a disproportionate representation of Chinese faces in attendance. While you are debating this intriguing little nugget, may I ask that Claire investigates the following questions, which have been bothering me for some time: Is the Pope religious - Roman Catholic, even - as I have heard? And when bears defecate in the great outdoors can they not see the wood for the trees? Reply | Quote

Chun Posted 18:03 on 4 February 2008 I cannot vouch for other people but I do know a lot of my family are into gambling. My father was an addict until very recently, he would gamble away months of wages in one night with his friends. It appeared prevalent in the family that this is what a lot of the men did. My brothers now work in a casino because when they grew up it was the norm for them - they see a lot of chinses people (most of who are friends and family) in the casinos. I think chinese people are obessed with money whether it is earning it, saving it or gamling it away Reply | Quote

Kit Lam - re: Posted 19:30 on 21 February 2008 I too cannot speak for other people other than the fact that my immediate family do not gamble other than by ex brother in law. My experience is that recently my sister divorced her husband because he had consistenly gambled his and her money away in the casinos in MCR chinatown...I'm talking tens of thousands of £'s. she believe it or not didn't know he was a gambler until too late, they've only been married for over 1 year. I believe rightly or wrongly that it was because he worked in China town and went there during his breaks as he had nothing to do and that he was too lazy to find another way of gaining more money in his life. And I ask myself is it because he works in the catering trade and this is what they do because of the unsociable working hours....I will apologise for offending people out there but the only stories that I hear reference Chinese gamblers in the UK are from my Mum saying so and so has lost this or done that and they all seem to be the people whose lives are based around Chinatown. All my professional Chinese friends and families do not gamble not even an innocent game of mah jong probably because none of us know how to play. having said all of this my in laws regularly meet their friends in HK to play mah jong but only to socialise...I think they use something else as currency!! BTW I would not describe investing in the stock market as gambling not as such otherwise it would be govern by the Gambling Act and not the Financial services Act. Kit Reply | Quote

yseon - Why Anthropology? Posted 20:35 on 20 March 2008 Hi Claire Thanks for your interest in this subject matter I am a little puzzled why an anthropological paradigm would be appropiate for this study, I would be as many other BBCs would be,in your speculations and your views so far. Thanks Reply | Quote

T. LAM - Gambling Posted 0:29 on 22 March 2008 hi Claire, I have a slightly different take on why the chinese gamble more so than other communities, i have experienced gambling on all levels from addiction to social gambling. I actually think that the mystical nature and deep rooted beliefs are the reason behind why chinese people like to gamble. It's not about the winning of money but knowing you have luck on your side no matter how big or small. Gambling isn't always about money, it's about chance? staking something (usually money) on the outcome of something. Lets face it everyone likes something for nothing and i think the chinese are more susceptible to put everything on the line as with their history most didn't have much to lose in the first place, China has never been a prosperous or educated nation so gambling has been ingrained into our culture as a way of getting a head. Reply | Quote

What is Anthropology - weird Posted 21:27 on 31 March 2008 Sorry but what is Anthropological study of chinese people mean? Reply | Quote

Anonymous Posted 21:19 on 7 April 2008 I think the silence from claire explains everything Reply | Quote

Su Den Nim - Is Gambling Prevalent among Ch Posted 14:54 on 8 April 2008 While people are debating this little nugget, could somebody also let me know what the consensual opinion is on the following points: 1. Do bears tend to defecate in forested areas? 2. Is it true that the Pope is Catholic? Many thanks for your considered opinions... Reply | Quote

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