The other day (2/8/08), KQED did a segment on their radio show, “The California Report” on Asian Americans and Gambling:
Casinos and card rooms provide a popular pastime for many Asian Americans, and with eight being a lucky number in most Asian cultures there might be some extra incentive to see just how lucky this year will be. For most, an occasional trip to a casino isn’t a problem — but some public health advocates worry about the growing numbers of Asian Americans who are addicted to gambling.”
You can catch the radio piece by downloading the MP3 of the show. To be honest, I never understood Asians and Asian-Americans’ propensity and interest in gambling. I don’t know any of my friends, Asian or not, who are interested in gambling, but apparently there are increasing number of Asian Americans who are and are becoming addicted.
(Flickr photo credit: alfonso benayas)
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9 Comments to “Asian Americans and Gambling”
Ernie wrote:
“To be honest, I never understood Asians and Asian-Americans’ propensity and interest in gambling.”
Holy crap, what planet are you from?! I’ve gone on no less than two trips to Las Vegas with 8A’s Mike and Genghis. And god help us if my mother is within a 5 mile radius of a nickel slot machine.
Posted on 13-Feb-08 at 10:30 pm | Permalink
ancient one wrote:
I’m with Ernie on this one: surprised that you haven’t run into the great Asian propensity for gambling. Some of the local card/casinos in Silicon Valley cater to Asian and Asians Americans — see articles like http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/08.01.96/cover/gambling-9631.html. Gambling is one of my parents’ favorite hobbies, from going to Indian casinos to poker games with friends.
Gambling is attributed by some as contributing to Asian American crime (see http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/05/02/MN108289.DTL). I remember once a relative drove by with a Jaguar. He told me he was test driving it for fun, and that it was for sale by some Vietnamese guy who was offering it for less than $20K (it was relatively new) because he had to pay off some gambling debts. An Asian American bookie I know told me how addicted some of these guys are that place bets with him. He said he went to an Asian restaurant, and one of the waiters there saw him. The waiter (yes he was Asian) goes to the restaurant cash register and pulls out the restaurant’s money to place a bet!
In high school, the school newspaper put a picture of me on its over gambling illegally in Reno on a band trip, along with a few other culprits! Former classmates at my high school reunion delighted in pulling that newspaper out and showing it to my wife! I don’t really gamble any more – a summer course in probability that did extensive analysis of casino and other games cured me of that.
Posted on 13-Feb-08 at 11:11 pm | Permalink
a wrote:
Anybody who took university level statistics knows that gambling is for suckers.
The house ALWAYS wins over time (probability curve smoothing).
That is why I am SOOO against those frickin Indian casinos and card rooms.
They are all run by white owned gambling management companies that are exploiting the tribes for their legal status under federal law. These companies soak the heck out of many Asians with their “Oriental Themed” casino areas.
Why doesn’t the government legalize crack and put crack stores on all street corners?
That is what they are doing to the Asian American community with all these damn casinos.
Posted on 14-Feb-08 at 7:08 am | Permalink
Xxxtine wrote:
I would just like to share that I cleaned house the last time I played Texas Hold’em Poker with the guys and took the top prize – a jug of liquid detergent and $10. They all reasoned that it was because I was hanging out with my friend, whose ex is a pro poker player.
Posted on 14-Feb-08 at 9:39 am | Permalink
a wrote:
The sheep of California recently approved four propositions which will add 17,000 slot machines.
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/01/california_prop.html
“Let’s take the strategy a step further. If it’s fine to close the budget gap partially by legalizing, franchising, and taxing one “victimless” activity, wouldn’t it be better to close it completely with more?
We could legalize prostitution, grant a franchise to the Police Athletic League, and direct 35% of the profits into the General Fund. It would be worth billions!
Why stop there?
Let’s legalize marijuana, let the Salvation Army sell it, and collect 40%. Budget surpluses as far as the eye can see!
Crystal meth, sold by the Girl Scouts?
The state income tax becomes unnecessary! Heroin from the Church of Christ?
No more sales tax!”
Posted on 14-Feb-08 at 10:34 am | Permalink
bucky wrote:
Gambling addiction has been a well-known problem in Asian cultures for a long time, so naturally that spread to Asian Americans too. I don’t know the reason for Asians propensity for it, but it is definitely not just a myth.
Posted on 14-Feb-08 at 3:23 pm | Permalink
Toro wrote:
The police in Little Saigon here in Garden Grove, CA actually set up an undercover sting last year which resulted in the closing of a senior center due to card game gambling by vietnamese seniors. Unbelievable.
Posted on 14-Feb-08 at 9:33 pm | Permalink
Mike wrote:
Haha seriously dude, you didn’t know Asians like gambling? That’s like saying you didn’t know birds can fly!
jk…
Back on the East Coast, there are all those free shuttle vans that go from NYC’s Chinatown to Atlantic City. And not only are they free – they give each rider some money to play! (To jump-start their addiction, I suppose.)
Sadly, Vegas knows about this phenomenon all too well (from one of your fav sources, the NY Times):
http://travel.nytimes.com/2007/06/13/business/13vegas.html?pagewanted=print
Posted on 14-Feb-08 at 10:08 pm | Permalink
David wrote:
Look, if somebody, Asian or not, has a problem with gambling, that is their own problem.
Personally, I really enjoy going to casinos and gambling, but I always know that it’s for fun. I only play with what I’m comfortable losing, and then I walk away if I hit that limit. It’s that simple.
If you can’t control yourself in a casino, don’t go there. Nobody is forcing you to. Have some self control and take responsibility into your own hands.
Posted on 28-Feb-08 at 11:44 pm | Permalink
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