Changes in Residents' Gambling Attitudes and Perceived Impacts at the Fifth Anniversary of Macao's Gaming Deregulation

Abstract

This article follows on an earlier study conducted on Macao residents' gambling attitudes and behavior when the local gaming industry deregulated in 2002. The objective is to examine if gambling attitudes and behavior have changed in the lapse of five years as gaming becomes more accessible. Results show that the respondents in 2007 had developed a more conservative attitude toward gambling in general. The same trend was observed among players and nonplayers. Three factors of perceived gaming impacts were found to influence overall gambling attitude. It was also found that table and slot games had increased in popularity and were replacing the more common forms of gambling prior to 2002. Implications for education, well-being of the society, public policies, and tourism destination theories are discussed.