Gambling in China and France

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523)

Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

Introduction

• Gambling occurred in every society• Rapid Development in19th and 20th centuries• Cultural Phenomenon despite its universality • The East and The West

• Historical Development• Similarities and Differences • Different Gambling Games• Problem Gambling• The New Ways to Gamble

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523) Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

What is Gambling?

“Gambling is one of the few social activities that occurs in nearly all cultures and in every period of time: in this

respect it can be said to be virtually a universal phenomenon in human societies.”

McMillen 1996

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523)

Historical Development in China

• Started in the 18 century BC• Ban of gambling during the Han

Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD)• The Tang Dynasty, 589 AD, the

Golden Age of Chinese History• In 1860, the Qing government

started to tax from gambling• In 1884, the Guandong government

legalized gambling

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523)

Historical Development in France

• Banned by the authority• Francis I (1494 –1547) created the Royal lottery • ‘Golden Age’ : between the Renaissance and 1789

Revolution• Napoleon: the Royal lottery the Imperial lottery

Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

Royal lotteyImperial lottery

Francis I Napoleon

Similarities

• Monopoly:• Hong Kong: Jockey Club

• France: La Française des Jeux (FDJ)

Pari Mutuel Urbain (P.M.U.)

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (0820523)Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

Similarities

• Increasing number of casinos

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523)Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

in France

Cultural differences

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523)Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

Most common gambling games Chinese French

Emphasis Process Result

Theory involved Psychology Possibility

Goal Money Other

Different Gambling Games

• China• Mah Jong • Pai Gow• Sic Bo (hi-lo)• Fan Tan

• France• Poker• Slot machines• Horse racing• Gambling on Sport events

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523) Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

Interaction between East and West

• Gambling is a worldwide activities• Horse Racing, the earliest western

gambling activities spread to China• Madiao (East) Vs. Poker (West)• Mark Six (Hong Kong) Vs. Lottery (Europe)• Dog Racing (Macau) imported from America• Roulette and Three-reel Machine

were exported to China

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523)

Problem Gambling among the Chinese

• Social gambling is widespread among

Chinese communities as it is a preferred form of entertainment.

• Prevalence estimates for Problem Gambling have increased over the years and currently ranged from 2.5% to 4.0%.

• Chinese problem gamblers consistently

have difficulty admitting their issue • Cultural differences exist in patterns of gambling

when compared with Western samples.

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523)

Problem Gambling among the French

• Problem gambling among youngsters > adults• Problem gamblers are most likely to be

electronic gaming machine players• Only 50% of the French Problem Gamblers

seek help. • 20% of problem gamblers: criminal offenses.• The gambling policy of the French government:

I. More risky games in casinos

II. Less risky games accessible to everyone

Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

The New Ways to Gamble

• Phone Betting • High Tech Gambling Tool • Online Betting

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523) Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

La Française des Jeux (FDJ)

Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523)

Conclusion

• Similarities in gambling in both countries.• Easy access to gambling websites.• Problem gambling

Jason Wong Ching Kwok (08020523) Elize So Kit Ling (07020120)