Photo by Michał Parzuchowski on Unsplash
One of the inherent big draws in traditional gambling has been the social aspect of it. We all like having a reason to spend more time among friends, family, compatriots, colleagues, and meet more people we may take a liking to or aspire to be like. Thus, in many cases, being a part of a particular group leads people to participate in some risk-taking. A lot of the time these are low stakes activities. Other times, it gets a little intense.
These pastimes are heavily influenced by cultural background, gender, and economic status as well, in particular:
In this article, we are going to explore how social identity plays into gambling.
People enjoy having a sense of community to share positive emotions with, support each other, and feel like they belong somewhere. These groups hold particular common values and norms. A lot of the time this is based on nationality or religion. For others, it could be related to their hobby, work background, national laws, or regional tradition.
For instance, in Islam gambling is strictly and expressly forbidden on moral grounds, according to their prophet Mhommad’s precise words. Buddhism also teaches a minimalistic approach toward such vices.
In fact, countries’ governments around Saudi Arabia and on the Eastern Arabian Penninsula have traditionally punished all forms of gambling harshly while Islamic countries farther from the historic geographic center of Islam, mainly to its West, allow people to get away with gambling if they want. Christianity, meanwhile, doesn’t forbid gambling outright.
A strong sense of social identity helps establish meaningful connections, find purpose, and navigate the complexities of modern life. This promotes mental health and emotional stability. Not feeling like one has a place to fit in causes them to revert into their shells and feel lower self-esteem. People living in strong communities also have lower stress levels, per studies. That’s why so many people in Japan still play Pachinko, a game that crosses some type of pinball with gambling.
Schools and workplaces with higher levels of cohesion enjoy higher engagement, motivation, collaboration, and productivity. Online communities meanwhile, help people link up, teach each other, and build connections even when physical proximity is not possible.
This has often been an impetus to bring people together. A very common pastime among men is to get together for some poker. Putting some money down also adds some edginess and boldness to the affair. Men get a chance to show off their masculinity. Other guys who are also big sports fans also enjoy betting on their favorite sports teams as it adds another gear to the entertainment.
When gambling is done just among friends, the stakes tend to be a lot lower. Entire families often get together to play some blackjack. The bets are typically rather low. However, when they all agree to go out to the casino, the wagers get considerably higher, such as hundreds of dollars. During these outings, as when visiting casinos for any people, slots tend to be the biggest draw, as they are purely based on chance and have a low entry threshold, Playable for as little as one dollar.
Another common activity that gives families a way to have fun together is scratcher cards. Like slots, they have the same low entry threshold. If people want, they can buy cards for a lot more too. The stakes are perfectly adjustable, and they’re a fun pastime the whole family can enjoy together.
A lot of people achieve this same level of socialization sitting at home while playing live dealer games operated through video. That way, they get the element of socialization they crave when they might not be able to commute otherwise or it may be illegal in their state. Recently, VR and AR gambling have exploded, and people gain an even greater level of immersion, with the illusion that their companions are sitting right next to them.
While for men gambling is about proving their manhood and showing off their wits, for women gambling is taken in a more light-hearted fashion most of the time. They usually get together and stick around for longer periods of time. Women especially prefer slots, even more than men, and in the case of older ladies, they have a big appetite for bingo and social casinos. In bingo, many of those women simply split the winnings with their friends when they win.
Meanwhile, social casinos have proven one of the most successful genres to have arisen since the advent of the Internet. In these casinos, no money is actually gambled at all. Instead, an in-game virtual currency is played with, without any opportunity to withdraw anything. At the same time, people still happily deposit real money for in-game credits, other nice customizations, and a more enriched version of the game.
Another big factor in social casinos is bragging about your winnings to other people on your Facebook wall or promoting an upcoming tournament.
It’s become quite common for social casino games and tournaments to be based on celebrities and TV. This is an amazing social boon for people who are, say, fans of a particular TV show. It gives them an avenue to meet people who share the same interest that they can meet and become friends with. These include the Price is Right and Family Feud.
For that reason, a lot of these casinos get away with requiring players pay for access. A lot of tournaments also cost real money to take part in. The possibilities are endless for all the different types of common interest groups that could be leveraged for people to meet new like-minded people and pals.
Regional events are common in which entire communities participate in gambling. Lotteries are common forms of this, which are also viewed as much lower risk than other forms. They’re usually legal in most countries too, since spending lots and lots more money on lottery tickets doesn’t substantially raise one’s chances of winning a state jackpot. Then there are other games popular in individual towns, such as temporary tournaments or betting on their home sports teams.
When it comes to those on the lower economic end of the spectrum, gambling is often viewed as an accessible means of financial aspiration or upward mobility. Lotteries and sports bets are often seen as low-cost opportunities for individuals to dream of hitting it big. These people may feel marginalized from more traditional means of wealth accumulation. The pursuit of a win, however unlikely, is framed as a momentary chance to break free from financial constraints.
As for people who already enjoy a level of financial comfort and success, gambling is much more looked at simply as a form of entertainment, leisure, and socialization. The elites engage in activities like high-stakes poker tournaments, private betting events, or visits to luxurious casinos where gambling is an expression of wealth, status, and the ability to indulge in a game of chance without the same pressures or consequences that most other people face.
The commercialization of gambling, especially through online platforms have somewhat washed these distinctions though. People of all walks of life can bet with anonymity that transcends physical boundaries. Yet, ultimately, gambling reflects social class structures within society.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely the author’s opinion and not investment advice – it is provided for educational purposes only. By using this, you agree that the information does not constitute any investment or financial instructions. Do conduct your own research and reach out to financial advisors before making any investment decisions.
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