The Sociology of Gambling

Author(s): Herbert A. Bloch

Source: American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 57, No. 3 (Nov., 1951), pp. 215-221
Published by: The University of Chicago Press
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THE AMERICAN

JOURNALOF SOCIOLOGY
VolumeLVII

NOVEMBER1951

Number3

THE SOCIOLOGY OF GAMBLING

HERBERT

A. BLOCH

ABSTRACT
Widespreadresentment
againstgamblingmaybe explainedby thefailureofgamblersto perform
normally
expectedproductivefunctions.The degreeof antipathydiffersaccordingto class. The chance elementin
human lifeis particularlyexploitedin those societieswhere status is largelycompetitiveand dependent
upon pecuniarystandards.The stabilizingand routinizedmechanismsof social livingare antitheticalto
gambling,whichresistsarbitrarysocial control.

devicein order
employedas an explanatory
upon the
order
of
sense
some
impose
to
ancienthisGamblinghas an extremely
Card-playand informal unknownand theunpredictable.
tory.As an institutionalized
history,manyoftheforms
pastime,it is not necessarilyan evil and inghas a lengthy
card
games predatingthe
modern
our
of
may,infact,as ithas in thepast,serveas an
history.
European
in
era
medieval
and
Artifacts
formofrecreation.
important
Gamblingemergesas a formof social
to variousgamesofchance,
relicspertaining
restones,draw- pathologyonlywhenthereis widespread
suchas pairedcubes,throwing
psychoof
the
because
it
against
sentment
ing sticks,gamingboards,and similarcontrivances,have been foundin the archeo- logicaland socialproblemswhichit creates.
logicalremainsof the Sumerian,Egyptian, In thefirstplace,in theinveterategambler
becomesan addiction,as in the
and Chinesecultures.The Greekswerepar- it frequently
familiarwithgamesofchance,and celebratedcharacterof Dostoevski'sminor
ticularly
thecastingofpairedand multiplecubeswas classic, The Gambler,who neglectedperan especiallyfavoredpastime among the sonal, family,and social responsibilities.
Romans. Primitivecultures,fromthe an- The gambleris condemnedlargelyforhis
cientPeruvianto the Bantu in Africaand failureto performthe normalproductive
expectedofhimrather
ordinarily
theEskimoin NorthAmerica,have regaled functions
ofthegambling
the
nature
because
of
than
as matchwithsuchamusements
themselves
itself.
obing fingersor rollingpebblesor other
Leisure may be respectablyenjoyed in
jects,in whichtheelementsof chanceconsocietiesonlywhenworkis put first.
most
stitutedone of the principalattractions.
the recreationmust not be
Furthermore,
Early magic and religiousrituals relied
orunproducdestructive
socially
considered
the
of
heavilyuponchance,as in thestudy
while
entrailsof sacrificialanimals among the tivein itself.This latterconsideration,
of"antisocial"
was nota universalcharacteristic
Romans,althoughdivineintervention
GAMBLING AND SOCIAL PATHOLOGY

2I5

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2I6

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

becomeso in a conceivedas an ineradicable"humanweakmaynevertheless

recreation,
fromgambling
theprofits
culturelike our own,whichplaces a high ness"bydiverting
valueuponeconomicactivity.The emphasis to publicrevenuesin theformofvast govIn underprivi- ernmentally
is, however,a classfunction.
nationallotteries.
controlled
leged economicgroupssuch unproductive
activity is stronglycondemned,but in
THE SOCIOLOGY OF GAMBLING
wealthier middle-classgroups, however,
The essentialbasisforall gamblingseems
doesnotcarry
though"wasteful,"
gambling,
to inherein thechancefactorofsuccessfor
thesame stigma.
of the typeof
irrespective
its participants,
Unlike excessivedrinking,drug addicdeviceorgamewhichis employed.The aleagamblingprotion,or sex demoralization,
tory(or chance) element,however,always
upon
effects
ducesno directlydeteriorating
varies.Gamblingmaycallforskill,as in certhehumanorganismor thesocialgroup.Its
tain card gamesand athleticcompetitions,
with
dangerliesin thefactthatit interferes
or it may simplydependupon the chance
the normal assumptionof responsibility
throwofa pairofdiceor thedrawofa card,
whichorganizedsocietycompels.Second,
as in studpoker.In any event,theelement
gambling,as any otherformof widelyacof chanceis alwayspresent.It is an indispracticed,although
ceptedand extensively
pensableaspectofits universalappeal.
tabooed,formof social behavior,may beCertainsocialand culturalsystemsseem
come a social problembecause of its intifosterand exploitthechanceelementin
to
mate association with unscrupulousand
human life, particularlythose societies
lawlesselements.Despite public strictures
wherestatuslargelydependsuponcompetiin theUnitedStates,
againstit,particularly
tive pecuniarystandards.This is notably
gamblingin its various institutionalized
truein theUnitedStates,whererapidcomforms,rangingfromcard gamesforlow or mercialexpansionand industrialdevelopbingo,bettingon
highstakes,horse-racing,
mentconspireto spurtheindividualto ecothe outcomeof various formsof athletic
nomic success throughsharp competitive
andpinballand othermechanicompetition,
expansionhas
practice,and whereindustrial
to thevast "numcontrivances
cal gambling
degreeuponpredependedto a considerable
bers and policy" games whichprey upon
carious and speculativeenterprise.In the
groupsin our largecities,has
small-income
UnitedStates,forexample,the distinction
elementin modernrecbecomea significant
betweencertainformsofapprovedandlegitreationallife.Even beforeit becameassociimate stock-marketspeculationand the
ated with underworldand vice elements,
is largecultivationofthegamblinginterest
however,gamblinghad been viewed with
ly a matterof degree,yet one is approved
profoundsuspicionbecause of the peculiar
of
An illustration
and theothercondemned.
cultural,and familialdisabilipsychological,
thismaybe seenin thesharpriseofspeculaties it produces.In fact,certainreligious
at perilous
tion amongbasic commodities,
bodies,suchas theMethodists,have fought
to theAmericaneconomicstructure
expense
as the digamblingalmostas strenuously
and thenationalsecurity,at thebeginning
vices.
rectlydeteriorating
oftheKoreancrisisearlyin thesummerof
becauseoftheambivalence 1950. Operatingalmostentirelyon credit,
Nevertheless,
of thepublic,whichcondemnsgamblingas speculatorsat theverystartof theKorean
within- warbeganto buyup "futures"ofsoybeans,
whileregarding
sociallydestructive
difference
orapprovalbingogamesplayedin lard,wheat,and othernecessities.
According
churchparlors,gamblinghas become ex- to an analysisby theCommodity
Exchange
difficult
to control.Because ofthis, Authority
tremely
oftheUnitedStatesDepartment
manymodernEuropean and Latin-Ameri- ofAgriculture,
up to 85 or 90 percentofthe
can countries
have capitalizeduponwhatis dealingsin soybeansforJuly2I, I950, was

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THE SOCIOLOGY OF GAMBLING

2I7

pure speculation-bettingthat the market greatpremiumis placed upon conformity

wouldgo up as a resultofthecrisis.The re- and theneedforroutine.At thesame time
portoftheCommodity
ExchangeAuthority thereis greatpressureto breaktheroutine
in
states:
and to experiment
to initiate,to promote,
of
growth
the
dynamic
to
bring
about
order
A speculator
whopurchased
justbeforethe
expandingsocial economy.
Koreanepisodeand depositedthe minimum a continuously
margin
couldhave"cashedin"fiveweekslater, For largemassesof individuals,thisis difon July28, withan approximate
450 percent ficult,
Hedgedinbystereoifnotimpossible.
profiton lard,300 percenton cottonseed
oil, typed employment
whichis ever increas300percent
onsoybeans,
oncotton inglyregularized,
150 percent
the
thefearofinsecurity,
orwooltops,and a comparatively
modesti0o pressuresof family,and the opinionsof
percenton the relatively
sluggishwheatfuothers,theaverageindividualfearsto "take
tures.'
thechance"thatmaymeanrichesand presOperatingagainst chance,however,are tige,despitethe traditionalassurancethat
the stabilizingand routinizedmechanisms the country'sgrowthand expansionhave
whichare the basis of the social order.In dependeduponpeoplewhodidexactlythat.
orderto achieveany typeofsecurity,
every Moreover,as AllisonDavis and theLynds
societystrivesto reduceignoranceand the have shownin theirstudiesofworking-class
as a meansofinsuring
unpredictable,
itsown families,theyfrequently
realize that they
a certaindegree are trappedand thatthereexistsneitheropcontinuance.2
Nevertheless,
of ignoranceconcerningthe operationof portunity
advancenorincentiveforfurther
both physicaland humaneventsmust,of ment.5For many,however,theopportunity
necessity,
alwaysexist.Ignoranceofevents, ofmakinga "killing,"whether
bybettingon
and of theiroutcomeservesas a the Irish Sweepstakesor by winningthe
therefore,
dynamicfunctionin all societies.3Where giant jackpot on some radio "giveaway"
knowledgeof the outcomeof a givenseries programor by answeringthe "$64 quesofhumaneventsis certain,thereis no incen- tion,"is a genuinepossibility;theyhardly
tivetowardcompetition
and otherformsof evertakeoddsintoconsideration.
Gambling
socialstriving.Von Neumannand Morgen- servesthesamefunction
in thepresentday
sternhave demonstrated
thispointofview as thepracticeof magicand ritualisticforin theiranalysis of economicbehavioras mulasamongprimitives,
whoentertainthe
comparedto the "sporting"chancepresent notionthat the unpredictable
containsfor
in playinggames.4
them among its infinitepossibilitiesthe
For a societysuchas ourown-complex, chanceofgoodfortune.
It is probablyno acimpersonal,and yet highlycompetitive-a cidentthatinveterate
gamblersarethemost
of men. This uncertaintyis
I United States Department of Agriculture, superstitious
and
Report of the Commodity Exchange Authority playeduponbyall peoplesinall cultures
(Washington,
D.C., August,I950).
is the sourceof theperennialfolkproverb,
2
Cf., e.g., Wilbert E. Moore and Melvin M.
"Whilethere'slife,there'shope."
Tumin, "Some Social Functions of Ignorance,"
Gamblingis an escape fromthe routine
AmericanSociologicalReview,XIV, No. 6 (Decemofmuchofmodand boredomcharacteristic
ber, I949), esp. 794 and 795.
lifein whichthesenseofcrea3 See Robert K. Merton, "The Unanticipated ernindustrial
Consequences of Purposive Social Action," Ameri- tion and the "instinctof workmanship"
can SociologicalReview,I (December, I936), 894- have beenlost. "Takinga chance"destroys
904.
routineand hence is pleasurable,particu4 Cf. John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenand
larlyin a culturewheretheunchanging

stern, Theory of Games and Economic Behavior

(2d ed.; Princeton: Princeton University Press,
5 See, e.g., Allison Davis, "The Motivation of
I947). See also Oskar Morgenstern,
"The Theoryof the UnderprivilegedWorker," ETC: A Reviewof
Games," Scientific American, CLXXX, No. 5 GeneralSemantics,III, No. 4 (summer,I946), 243(May, I949), 22-25.
53.

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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

2I8

predictableroutinesof employmentare
In summary,gamblingprovidesa funcsharplyseparatedfrom"leisure"-the time tion in well-organized
societieswherethe
whentheindividualreally"lives." The de- stressof competition(withits lack of premakes dictability)is great,and where,in contrast,
newexperience
sireforthrillsthrough
the publicreadilyopen to exploitationby the regimenof economicand social lifeis
professionalgamblinginterests,as Moore rigorous.Sucha society,placinga premium
and Tuminpointout:
upon "risk" and "takinga chance,"proofmanygames videsthroughgamblingan outletformany
theattractiveness
Certainly
of chance,as wellas thosegamesand sports individualswho,hedgedin by socialrestricwould
wherechancemay equalizeor offsetknown tionsand limitedor no opportunity,
restsin otherwise
in skilland performance,
differences
fortheneed
findlittlesatisfaction
outcome. fornew experienceand pecuniarysuccess.
largemeasureon theirunpredictable
In fact,thereis some roughevidencethat This penchantfor takinga chance is exactivities pressedin the popular cliche: "Why not?
inrecreational
ofthefuture
ignorance
role where
assumesan especiallysignificant
and bore- What have you got to lose?" The implicapredictability)
routine(read:perfect
of workassignmentstionsare twofold.
dom are characteristic
ofbeing
In thefirstplace,theprobability
workandwhere
thereis a sharpbreakbetween
entera
in
gaming
or
the
loser
winner
the
ingtimeandleisuretime.6
newexpriseprovidessuspense,insecurity,
There remain,finally,the conditionsof perience,and hope,servingimportant
emoand
association,"opportunity,
"differential
tionalneedsin individualswhoselives are
thelargeblocksofunplannedleisure,which increasingly
Althoughcertain
regularized.7
modernsocietypermits.Games of chance culturalfactorsand conditions
mustalso be
found,and even encour- takenintoconsideration,
are traditionally
thismay account
aged,in theplay of childrenin modernso- in part fortheheavy gamblingin cardsin
ciety,rangingfromtraditionalchildren's certainclasses,such as the landed English
guessingand matchinggames to the early gentryof theeighteenth
century.Although
ofadultgamblingand cardgames. highlystableand securelyensconcedin the
imitation
In manyfamilies,on all class levels,card- social structurethroughspecial favorand
playingand otherformsof gambling,even privilege,
as judgedby
"lifein thecountry,"
whenthestakesarelow,havebecomedeeply descriptive
accounts,diaries,and lettersof
Thereareethnic,class,and even the period, was extremelyboring.8Gamintrenched.
in thesecommonformsof
sex differentials
as did
diversion,
blingprovideda precarious
is largelya mid- therisksof fox-hunting:
recreation.Bridge-playing
a man wouldrisk
whilepokeris tradition- his entireestate upon the turnof a card.
dle-classdiversion,
ally considereda "man's game," and the This aristocratictraditionhad its countergam- partin thiscountry
castingofdice,asidefromprofessional
in theantebellumSouth
blinginterest,is commonamongNegroes. amongwealthyplantationowners.
For many young men of the lower and
In thesecondplace,thebeliefthatchance
middleclass,learningto playcardsis partof
worksequally in favorof each one of the
growingup and becomingidentifiedwith contestantsin a gamblingventuresustains
adultsand theirstandards.For theindivid- thehopeforstatusorrewards,
whichtheinwhoseemployual withfewinnerresources,
dividualfeelsmaynotbe achievedthrough
forprogressive
littleopportunity
mentoffers
andacceptablechannels.(Who
conventional
challengeand advancementand is tedious hasn't dreamedof whathe woulddo if he
and boring,and in whoseearlyexperience
7The familylivesof a smallselectedgroupof
in someformhas playeda part,to
gambling
who wereexaminedby the authorwere
gamblers
natural
and
is
as
a
be gambler
commonplace
ofregimentation.
byan extreme
characterized
as to becomean ardentbaseball fan or a
8 Cf.,e.g.,David Matthew,TheSocialStructure
addict.
moving-picture
of CarolineEngland(London:OxfordUniversity
6 Op.cit.,P. 794.

Press,I948).

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THE SOCIOLOGY OF GAMBLING

219

in American of personalappearance,a matterof great

had a milliondollars?)Further,
phi- importance
society,
in a highlycompetitive
life, the "get-something-for-nothing"
ac- is anothercharacteristic;
of
range
a
althoughnotvery
in
wide
losophyis expressed
ofclass.In fact,
tivitiesfromsavingbox tops forpremiums common,thisis a revelation
to the enormousprizesof the radio "give- somegamblerssedulouslycultivatea dapper
ironically, appearanceas a meansof indicatingaffluThis incentive,
away" programs.
operatesevenwhenwhatis givenaway-as, ence and respectabilityand betokening,
forexample,a thousandcans ofdog food- amongotherthings,solvencyas a gambling
psymayhaveverylittleor no value to thecon- partneror adversary.The interesting
"Get-Rich- chologicalfeatureof gamblingis the enortestant.The anticsofa fictional
or his realisticcounter- mousholdit finallycomesto exertuponthe
QuickWallingford"
Gates, the financial personality,comparablein a sense to the
"Bet-a-Million"
part,
tycoon,excitedthe admiration,envy,and gripofalcohol,withoutitsadversephysical
ofAmeri- effects.Once addicted, even though the
emulationofan earliergeneration
justas gamblermay recognizethe harmhis pracofthecentury,
cansat thebeginning
"jackpot"
and
television
the giant radio
tice is causinghis family,businessassociconcontestsenticetheirpresent-daychildren ates, and others,he will nevertheless
and grandchildren.
tinueto followhisbent,livingin thehopeof
an
makingup in onefinalsweepofwinnings
THE GAMBLER AS A PERSONALITY TYPE
forhispreto compensate
amountsufficient
gamblers, viouslossesand,consequently,
to makeresSincegamblingis so extensive,
unlikealcoholics,do notfallintoanyspecific titutionto his familyand friends.The mocer- tiveto gamble,whenonceit has achieveda
Nevertheless,
typologicalclassification.
may be found "functionalautonomy" of its own, may
tain commoncharacteristics
as a formof dominateotherprimaryconsiderations
Gambling,
of
in theirpersonalities.
con- the personality.9
individual
the
when
occurs
This impetusis so strong
addiction,
neglectshis im- that the individualmay transgress
against
sistentlyand continuously
portantprimarydutiesand obligationsto law in orderto accomplishhispurpose.Emforthe bezzlement
andcommunity
employer,
ofgamblers.
hisfamily,
is a commonoffense
of inlife-histories
The
sake of gambling.
The continualsuspenseinwhichthegampe- bler lives engendersan emotionaltension.
veterategamblersindicatea transitional
riodin theircareerswhentheirregularrou- He is frequentlytaut, the hypertension
tinesare seriouslyjeopardizedand it be- beingsustainedforlengthyperiodsoftime.
commonforthemto stay He cannotaffordto relax,since he is incomesincreasingly
away fromhome and job forlengthype- variablyeitherraisingfundsforhis gamriods. The inveterategamblerbecomesas blingforaysor planningforor makinghis
as thealco- bets.He devotesconsiderabletimeand enandundependable
unpredictable
holic,as faras his homeand his workare ergyto his enterprises.
The amountoftime
concerned.Aside from horse-racingand spentin workingoverhis "dope sheets"in
otherspectacleswhichencouragegambling, horse-racing,
forexample,and thedegreeof
gamblingmaybe
mostformsofprofessional
requiredare impressive.
concentration
indulgedin at anytimeoftheday or night,
to
thetensioninvolvedin conSubjected
therousessions,disrupting
and night-long
the gamblerlearns to
risk-taking,
tinuous
tineof normallife,are quite common.For
behavior.His
characteristic
affect
expressive
pursueshis
the gamblerwho consistently
reare
and
frequently
anxiety
turmoil
inner
thediscipline
therefore,
gamblinginterests,
stoical
of
an
assumption
through
pressed
charwhichto somedegree
and orderliness
"poker
acterizethe lives of most individualsare calm,evidencedin the well-known
gone.
A Psycho9 Cf.GordonW. Allport,
Personality:
tofindoccasionalevi- logicalInterpretation
(NewYork:HenryHolt& Co.,
It is notuncommon
dencesofneglectofdietand sleep.Neglect 1937),chap. vii.

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220

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

face" of the inveteratecard-player.More- loser will pay his debts. Chance itselfbein thecertainty,
viz.,
over,justas thealcoholicsecretesliquorand comesinstitutionalized
fundsfor a potentialdrinkingbout, the the certaintythat if he wins,he will be
offunds-his paid.Io
gamblerwillretaina reservoir
"bettingmoney"-which he will lnotuse
GAMBLING: A DILEMMA OF MODERN SOCIETY
personalneedsor theneeds
evenforpressing
of his family.Finally,thereis interesting The practiceand organizationof gamofcompensation bling seems to followa cycle. So well inevidenceofthemechanisms
and so
is it as a formofrecreation,
formsofpsychologi- trenched
and othercharacteristic
devices:forexample,he propitiousare thevariousculturalelements
cal tension-reducing
realor in modernsocietywhichpromoteit, that,
boastsabouthiswinnings,
frequently
like the prohibitionof alcohol,legislation
bemoans
he
while
to nongamblers,
fictitious,
the exaggeratedextentof his losses to his and otherformsof arbitrarysocial control
consideredan infringement
are frequently
fellow-gamblers.
The specializedhumorof gamblingand upon personal prerogativeand privilege.
the jokes whichgamblersexchangeamong Consequently,it is a widespreadpractice
themselvesreflecttheirtensionsand their which, in its disorganizingeffectsupon
thelatteran evidence groupsand personalitiesand the possibilicynicism,
underlying
thattheyare aware of thefutilityof gam- tiesforexploitationit offersto lawlesseleAndwhencontrol
bling.Strikingis the paradoxbetweenthe ments,goesuncontrolled.
is
impossibleto
it
virtually
attempted,
is
"beat
that
can
he
hope
gambler'sperennial
thegame" and his realisticknowledgethat maintainbecauseof thesecureplace which
As a result,
enjoysin thefolkways.
gambling
it is virtuallyimpossibleto do so.
legislationand othercontrolsare onlyparTHE GAMBLER'S CODE OF ETHICS
tial.Suchmeasuresprovidean incentivetothe opening-upof formsof gambling
ward
Gamblingover manycenturieshas propavingthe way towardirstill
proscribed,
duceda traditionalcode of ethics.Primary
control
by lawlessand corrupt
responsible
is the "gentleman'scode"-that gambling
This
further
invites
legalcontrol,
elements.
debtsmustbe paid and givenpriorityover
to
and
leadingto
enforce
impossible
again
otherformsof obligation.This may be in
that
with
the
result
further
corruption,
part a survivalof the eighteenth-century
is
considerable
pressure
popular
eventually
aristocrat'scode of the "debt of honor."
of
all
forms
gambling.
to
legalize
exerted
in
chicanery
indulge
individual
may
The
in orderto satisfyhis gam- Whenthisoccurs,thedangersofwidespread
and dishonesty
invitehazardsfortheenso deeplyis the obligation legalizedgambling
blingcreditors,
theneedforpartire
reintroducing
society,
felt.
again.This
the
begins
cycle
and
control;
tial
soanother
significant
Thereis,however,
which
cycle
of
the
phase
the
is
apparently
ciologicalelementin thispractice.The basic
reached.
have
we
presently
thrillin gamblingrestsin the expectation
From the standpointof social control,
that the individualmay make a "killing."
thuspresentstwomajorproblems:
gambling
the
or
This,ofcourse,dependsuponchance
may
the
to
what
outcome
inability predict
'OIn the hierarchyof gamblers' values, failure
be. This, however,is premisedupon a cer- to "pay off"when a debt is due is the cardinalsin,
the continuanceof the entireinvolved structhattheloserwillpay since
tainty-thecertainty
ture of professionalgambling interests depends
thegamingventureit- upon the honoringof the debt. So clearly is this
hisdebts.Otherwise,
selfhas novalidity."To win"without"win- recognizedby professionalgamblersthat gambling
reluctant to advance each
ning"makesno sense.Hence, to make the syndicates, ordinarily
other's interests,will neverthelessextendcreditto
there each other so that the confidenceof the gambling
gamblingworthwhileand profitable,
mustbe the continuedassurancethat the public may remainunjeopardized.

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THE SOCIOLOGY OF GAMBLING

individualgambler
thatof thedisorganized
control.
and thatofwidespreadeffective
The extreme
gambler,a sociopathicdeviation, requiresconcertedtherapeuticand
care.
psychiatric
The social controlof gamblingpresents
two alternatives:(i) Gamblingmay be diorremovedonlyto thedegreethat
minished

22I

choicesare cultivated-a
otherrecreational
probleminvolvingwidespreadsocial reappraisal. (2) As a morefeasiblecourse,gamin accordancewith
blingmaybe regularized
conventionalsocial practicethroughadeand controlling
legislation.
quatepermissive
ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY

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