![Casino State: New Book By Sociologist Ji](http://www.trentu.ca/newsevents/images/090210casino.jpg)
“When governments get into the gambling business, they face perceptions of their legitimacy, and this is more significant in relation to the phenomenon of problem gambling, which is a consequence of gambling-friendly policies. In times of economic uncertainty, it’s even more important to examine the real price of these policies,” Prof. Cosgrave said.
Prof. Cosgrave noted that the book is a response to an “unprecedented explosion” of legalized gambling, particularly in the form of casinos and electronic gaming. It includes a chapter dealing specifically with the latter, other issues, such as gambling and morality, gambling consumption and risk, provincial policies, and social issues such as gambling-related crime and youth problem gambling.
The volume raises questions about state conduct, policy issues, public health and addictions, and provides a comprehensive overview of the central issues related to the legalization and expansion of gambling in Canada.
Through this new book, Prof. Cosgrave hopes it will spark debate amongst a wider audience. “We know that the public is becoming increasingly aware of gambling addictions, and we wanted to examine the implications of state-owned gambling enterprises.”
Prof. Cosgrave teaches at Trent University’s Oshawa campus.
Fellow co-editor of Casino State with Prof. Cosgrave is Thomas R. Klassen, a political scientist at York University.
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Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2009.