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

phil - bettinglayingclub Posted 14:15 on 17 June 2009 www.bettinglayingclub.blogspot.com email: bettinglayingclub@hotmail.co.uk Reply | Quote

Ms Tang - How it originate.. Posted 1:14 on 17 August 2009 I believe the Chinese and the act of gambling originated when the first generation arrived in UK. They had little money and spoke little English. Their sole purpose was to earn as much money as possible with a view of creating a better a life for them and their family. Due to the obvious language barrier and the somewhat different culture they struggled to relate or befriends with the westerners. This limited their social activities. At first, going to casinos was a place to hang out. Later it led to an addiction which they will never admit to as the more they were involved in those activities, the more they had to go. The Chinese always enjoyed the odd bet here and there and as roulettes and blackjacks were truly universal and require little skill, it was an obvious choice for them. Even if you can turn scrabble into a betting game, this would not interest the Chinese, as they will struggle to learn how to play. The visits to casinos almost became a routine. As for the second generation, they were obviously influenced by the first. Their view on gambling directly relates to the experience they had as a child. If it was negative, e.g. dad use to always come home broke and there were constant arguments in the house fighting for more money to gamble, their children are less likely to gamble themselves. In fact, they probably hate and are against gambling, as they perceive gambling as evil. For those who are still struggling to mingle or befriends with the westerners, going to the casino is classed as an alternative to going to the pub every Friday night. Having said that, it is worth noting that those second generation gamblers tend to be smarter gamblers. Rather than gambling away like the first generation, they tend to take calculated bets and are more analytical. The enjoyment of winning contributes to why they like casino so much! Reply | Quote

V Posted 13:00 on 19 August 2009 I am Chinese and I like gambling. However I gamble for excitement and fun, rather than for money. In this regard, I would like to point out that I am from Hong Kong, which although is a Chinese city, draws its cultural and social roots from a history very different from that of mainland China, and I believe that this is reflected in a difference in attitudes and motives towards casino gambling amongst the Chinese themselves. There are also the overseas communities which is another slightly different story. The Chinese view of gambling and gaming using money, I think is heavily influenced by the persistent view of gambling as a social activity, in which friendships, partnerships, business relations and other forms of social engagements are forged. This can be easily seen in mahjong, where groups of friends and friends of friends gather to engage in a common activity, and at the end relationships are made/improved. Of course, winning money is the lure to the table, but what usually stays with the players (at least for mahjong) is the socialising aspect. Another common observation of the social aspect is the large groups of Chinese that play together at a casino, they enter together and play together (though they may not leave together, this varies with the individual of course!) With no taboos attached to gambling, the Chinese would often bring their children to casinos or make no attempt to conceal the fact that they gamble. This keeps the generational effect going and subsequent generations are drawn to the casino and may even be familiar with the games, making gambling increasingly approachable for the Chinese. Obviously, gambling runs the risk of addiction, and the high population of Chinese, the acceptability of gambling as a legitimate pastime and the excitement come together to perpetuate the social phenomenon of Chinese-everywhere-in-casinos. Other notable influences are the ban on gambling in the PRC, the easy entry to the booming casino industry in Macau and the competitiveness amongst Chinese due to overpopulation and social perspectives, leading to an increased value being placed on money. Reply | Quote

Luke Abercrombie - Chinese gambling Posted 5:05 on 3 December 2009 I have noticed at the casino I sometimes go to that there are signs in english and in chinese (I don't know which language) and they have promotional events for chinese new year. I too notice a disproportionate amount of chinese people when I'm at the casino and at certain bookmakers. Reply | Quote

Dee - Chinese Gambling Posted 5:28 on 15 February 2010 I am chinese personally, i see it as a objective of a few things. First is pride! I use to have a friend mum that use to gamble, and when she didnt turn up her friends would say, oh she poor, she will lose face,so she will turn up even though she didnt have money. I also think gambling is socially acceptable, and there cheer me up terms with it. They use gambling as a excuse sometimes, 'oh you lose alittle that is winning (stupid terms) like that. I also believe as chinese new year there is a deep rooted tradition of gambling at majahon and card playing to kill time. Social Issue. Its not that Chinese are very social verbally people in the way the espress themselves lanuage wise. CHinese dont show feeling ,but chinese might feel its winning that counts rather than the western view taking part that counts. Human - all human are interactive creature, and all human like a easy way out. You are also influenced by people that you hang out with. Chinese coming to this country working stupid long hour a place to relax would be the casino trap. Free drink free food, and hoping for you to gamble. Influence by generation of previous generation and media, and other chinese people. Look at there cars, most chinese will drive a lower BMW just to have that badge ie lower 3 series than drive a lexus (which i think is better). Look at there Handbags Louis Vuitton only monogram design so its instantly reconised. Alot of things in chinese evolves around money. But also interwine with pride and I suppose face and also low confidence at times. But sometimes Simpler things are the happist! That is my views Reply | Quote

FLARE - 3 GOLDEN RULES Posted 13:27 on 14 July 2010 3 things chinese like to do. gamble, swim, and eat seafood. without it, you are not chinese. Reply | Quote

askme - they are everywhere Posted 14:42 on 15 July 2010 seeing chinese people gambling is like watching online gambling in a offline way.<a href="http://www.bookiestore.com">Pay Per Head Sportsbook</a> Reply | Quote

askme2 - ?? Posted 14:43 on 15 July 2010 seeing chinese people gambling is like watching online gambling in a offline way.http://www.bookiestore.com Reply | Quote

mandy - gambling in birmingham Posted 2:21 on 27 August 2010 i work with the chinese community and would like to do a project on chinese and gambling. if anybody has any reports or research that can help, would be much appreciated. I personally do believe there is a problem with gambling amongst the chinese community, hence the interest in the project. Reply | Quote

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