With the rise of online gambling-related activities all over the world, the gambling problem has risen at an alarming rate, a factor that calls for urgent intervention, less it turns out to be an uncontrollable menace among many teens as well as adults. According to statistics, it is estimated that about 80% of Americans gamble in one or another stage of their lives. The problem has escalated to include young adults. Approximately 750,000 individuals aged between 14 to 21 years suffer from gambling addiction. Furthermore, according to National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), the frequency of gambling among different demographics is a cause for great concern. The above agency and other resources estimate that 15% of Americans are likely to gamble once in a week. This has significantly contributed to compulsive gambling, an issue that has, in turn, contributed to ethical related issues in gambling. Gambling that takes advantage of individuals that are not medically fit, addiction that prompts one to be involved in harmful criminal related activities to fund compulsive gambling, one that involves office gambling among other gambling undertakings that rise a moral question are unethical because of the chain of problems that they cause not only the gambler but also the society around him or her. Utilitarianism as well as deontological theories put forth the ethical issues related to gambling and its morality. Regardless of the above, however, charitable gambling can be viewed to be a good cause to be supported and is mainly not harmful when undertaken in moderation. The involvement of children in gambling, especially those who are not ye cognitively mature enough to undertake independent decisions is unethical to a large extent. According to Larry Chonko, the principles that guide ethics include Justice, least harm, respect to independence, and beneficence. Upon relying on the above principles and utilitarianism, it is possible to argue that gambling among children raises ethical related questions Utilitarianism argues that an undertaking whose outcome has the greatest positive impact on the individuals influenced is beneficial, and hence, ethically upright to pursue. In most cases, children get involved in buying of lottery tickets, playing cards for money, gambling online among other platforms that the above is perpetuated. The seemingly lucrative incentives that are easily acquired online promote children as young as nine years to patriciate in gambling in countries such as Canada. The moral concern comes in when the children spend more time that is meant for other self-building activities gambling, extorting money from their parents or engaging in other illegal activities such as stealing to fund their behavior among others. Due to the inability of children to control the urge to continue with gambling, they are likely to be addicted, a factor that does not only affect their emotional well-being but also their physical as well as socially related development milestones. It is especially immoral for individuals running Casinos and other gambling platforms to allow children to gamble, yet their decision-making skills are not yet fully developed. The above present a way in which the individuals behind the above activities could exhort children directly or indirectly. Regardless of the fact that the above issue is not addressed to a large extent, it is a form of child abuse that needs intervention, lest children grow devoid of a sense of responsibility due to the fact that as they continue to get involved in gambling, they fail to acknowledge other responsibilities that are up to them. Chasing losses is one of the underlying reason as to why individuals might steal or engage in crime to get money to continue being able to fund their betting related activities. May-Chahal et al. (2017) assert that there is a relationship between crime and gambling in that when one is under the compulsive urge to bet and they are not financially able to, they are likely to engage in illegal activities to be able to achieve their motive. The ethics of this behavior can be questioned in accordance to what is stipulated in deontological ethical theory. It stresses the need for individuals to adhere to their obligations as well as responsibilities towards each other in society. The above directly or indirectly influences one’s assertiveness as well as decision making. Compulsive gambling that influences an individual to engage in crime violates the principles that underlie deontology. Besides, it also brings about issues such as injustice to the individuals indirectly affected by gambling. The above is mainly common among individuals who are affected by the gambling addiction, a condition that can be likened to other forms of addiction such as drug addiction where an individual depended on such substances can barely function normally without using them. Betting affects individuals who are not mentally fit to make decisions independently, a factor that in turn escalates the condition of those that suffer from different drug addiction related conditions such as alcoholism. According to utilitarianism theory, an undertaking that is likely to be of the greatest utility is to be pursued. Gambling leads to a chain of outcomes that contradicts the above statement to a large extent. Cronce, Jessica & William (2010) asserts that longer periods of drinking could enhance the length of time that individuals engage in betting related activities. This, in turn, results in more money being spent on alcohol as well as betting. Increased spending on the above activities could lead to the person in question being unable to cater for other important financial needs such as paying bills. Besides, as the person concurrently engages in betting and drinking, frustration is likely to increase, especially when there are fewer gains related to their undertakings. Such frustrations do not lead to the person in question being of the greatest utility to the individual as well as the society around him or her. Marital related issues are likely to arise when the above behavior escalates. Even worse, the person in question might be violent as a way of expressing frustrations eminent in his or her lifestyle. As a result of economic related issues, dependency, sexual dysfunction, emotional devastation among other gambling-related problems are likely to be imminent. A given family is likely to be devastated when a parent engages in such activities that do not result in significant utility among other family members. At the end of it all, such behavior might lead to divorce, child, and spouse-related abuse among other behaviors that are not deemed morally upright. Closely related to the above, individuals that run casinos and other betting platforms are likely to indirectly extort those who are under drug addiction as well as those who cannot make upright decisions due to a mental related condition that derails them from doing so. Although the above might not be outrightly evident, it is a form of abuse that a considerable amount of individuals that are classified as the minority might fall prey. Office gambling is a multifaceted issue that raises related ethical concerns at different levels of organizations as well as the community at large. It directly influences one’s obligations at the workplace, hence, directly violating deontological ethics. While gambling related undertakings at the office might lead to minor problems such as an individual engaging in gambling and hence neglecting his or her own work-related duties, it might escalate to a level whereby the individual in question participates in fraud to fund his or her behavior. According to the National Institute of Health, it is unlawful to gamble in a federal workplace. Violating workplace-related policies is unethical since it is not in the best interest of the employer. Besides laws, betting at the workplace influences one’s concentration, decision making as well as ability to dispense one’s duty in the best way possible. As one concentrates on redeeming his or her losses, they might end up betting during the time they are supposed to be carrying out office related activities. The above directly or indirectly affects workplace outcomes as well as performance. Due to the fact that the employer pays one to do a specific job, it is only fair that the end outcomes meet their objectives. To the contrary, however, since such activities often lead to frustrations on both sides, the greatest utility is unlikely to be achieved by both parties. Gambling is a controversial issue in different religions, one that is encouraged in certain events and a factor that is also strongly disapproved by those in different faiths. Regardless of the controversy, the motive of engaging in any gambling activity remains to be a significant issue in raising a moral concern. Deontology ethical related principles can be explained based on the different laws that faiths all over the world hold and practice concerning gambling. While gambling is not prohibited directly in different religions, there are doctrines that denounce it indirectly. In Islam, the doctrines have it that Satan plans to stir enmity among the believers, using intoxicants as well as gambling to avert believer’s thoughts from Allah. In Christianity, the Bible cautions Christians against the love of money and the desire to serve two masters, God and money. Besides, Buddhism and Judaism also discourage gambling due to the negative outcomes related to it. Due to the fact that religious doctrines provide living principles as well as moral guidelines to those who believe when one violates such doctrines, they are likely to offend others in the society. As a result, this becomes unethical based on the notion that it does not benefit many in society. In contrary to the above, however, individuals have been skeptical of religious related gambling that aims at raising funds for worthy causes. The approach is for example supported by the Roman Catholic Church in some situations (Kumar, Alok, Jeremy & Oliver, 2011). In applying deontology as well as utilitarianism theory on the above phenomenon, because the aim of the undertaking is not for selfish motives, it can be argued that it is morally upright. Besides, since it is acceptable to many in the specific congregation, it results in happiness and hence, can be claimed to be morally upright. In conclusion, Gambling is an issue that has caused ethical concerns among different stakeholders. Principles underlying deontological, as well as utilitarianism theories, can be used to bring to light the ethical concerns that are raised by gambling among different demographics. While deontology stresses on the need for different people to adhere to their duties in making decisions so as the overall outcome to be beneficial, utilitarianism focuses on ethics based on undertakings that yield the most significant benefit to all. Because of the above, gambling can be viewed to mainly have negative ethical implications due to the outcomes related to it. Engaging in criminal-related undertakings to fund compulsive betting, gambling among children who are not mature enough to make autonomous decisions, extortion of vulnerable minorities by individuals who run betting sites and platforms, workplace gambling, family related feuds as a result of gambling addiction and substance abuse are just some of the ethical related concerns that are growing at an alarming rate. They do not only affect individuals directly involved but they are also a major concern to many who are indirectly affected. Besides this, religious related betting that is not contained causes moral related concerns, a factor that mainly leads to many religions being against gambling. The implications of the above activity continue to rise, especially with the increase in internet-related betting sites. Unless contained, it is likely to continue being a detriment in social, economic as well as religious spheres.
References
Chonko, L. ETHICAL THEORIES [Ebook]. DSEF. Retrieved from http://www.dsef.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/EthicalTheories.pdf Cronce, J. M., & Corbin, W. R. (2010). Effects of alcohol and initial gambling outcomes on within-session gambling behavior. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 18(2), 145. Kumar, A., Page, J. K., & Spalt, O. G. (2011). Religious beliefs, gambling attitudes, and financial market outcomes. Journal of Financial Economics, 102(3), 671-708.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
May-Chahal, C., Humphreys, L., Clifton, A., Francis, B., & Reith, G. (2017). Gambling harm and crime careers. Journal of gambling studies, 33(1), 65-84.
