This thesis examines the legal history of regulating early gambling venues in Canada. Two case studies illustrate the manner in which a 'spatially oriented' legal regime emerged: early Chinese gambling dens in Victoria and Vancouver, and racetracks in Ontario. The term 'spatially oriented' recognizes that gambling law, both past and present, regulates gambling places rather than the activity of gaming itself. Moreover, the application of the law was spatially inconsistent: early Chinese gambling dens received a discriminate amount of police scrutiny while an express exemption in the criminal law insulated racetrack betting from sanction. The theoretical perspectives of moral regulation and critical legal geography are used to show that discourses of law, liberalism, race and morality are inextricably linked to 'place.' In particular, the relationship between law and place is highlighted to show how moral and ideological geographies may be both reflected in law, and created by law. The implication for early Canadian gambling venues was the development of a reputation of respectability for particular forums, such as the racetrack, versus the association of criminal connotations with unlicensed social gambling clubs, such as the Chinese gambling den.

This thesis examines the legal history of regulating early gambling venues in Canada. Two case studies illustrate the manner in which a 'spatially oriented' legal regime emerged: early Chinese gambling dens in Victoria and Vancouver, and racetracks in Ontario. The term 'spatially oriented' recognizes that gambling law, both past and present, regulates gambling places rather than the activity of gaming itself. Moreover, the application of the law was spatially inconsistent: early Chinese gambling dens received a discriminate amount of police scrutiny while an express exemption in the criminal law insulated racetrack betting from sanction. The theoretical perspectives of moral regulation and critical legal geography are used to show that discourses of law, liberalism, race and morality are inextricably linked to 'place.' In particular, the relationship between law and place is highlighted to show how moral and ideological geographies may be both reflected in law, and created by law. The implication for early Canadian gambling venues was the development of a reputation of respectability for particular forums, such as the racetrack, versus the association of criminal connotations with unlicensed social gambling clubs, such as the Chinese gambling den. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

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published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

This dissertation examines social and political conflict over gambling policy in the United States and Brazil from 1960 to the present with a particular focus on New York City and Rio de Janeiro. The study accounts for the process by which illegal numbers gambling in New York and the jogo do bicho in Rio de Janeiro were determined to be the basis for widespread corruption and lawlessness. As policy makers proposed enhanced government lotteries as a solution for the problem of illegal gambling, numerous groups scrambled for position within shifting gambling frameworks. Tens of thousands of persons who had long worked in illegal numbers networks pressed for access to legal gambling jobs, corporate entities partnering with government lotteries pushed to secure monopoly concessions, while many citizens and religious groups opposed any and all forms of gambling legalization. As gambling workers, bettors, clergy, police officers, politicians and corporate lobbyists all struggled over how gambling would be conducted going forward, an intense debate unfolded in both Brazil and the United States with issues relating to police corruption, welfare, public safety, state sovereignty, personal liberty, and distribution of the tax burden all under examination. While there are many comparative elements of this study, it is ultimately transnational in that the narrative histories of gambling policy in Brazil and the United States eventually converge through the gambling technology corporation Gtech, which emerged as a powerhouse in the government lottery sectors of both nations. As the low stakes illegal gambling games of the numbers and the jogo do bicho are suppressed in favor of legal government lotteries, a vast new array of gambling habits are introduced to the gambling public in both Brazil and the United States. Of particular importance to this study is the growth of multimillion-dollar jackpot games offered by governments and their corporate partners. As players leave behind the old games with their reasonable odds and their modest payouts, they take up new games with astronomical odds and obscene jackpots. In the argument of this study, jackpot style gambling has brought the gambling habits of the poor and working classes into accord with contemporary patterns of wealth distribution.

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Social Sciences

The gambling policy of Hong Kong had been adopted for more than thirty years without any significant changes since the introducing of the Gambling Ordinance (Chapter 148) in accordance with the Betting Duty Ordinance (Chapter 108) in the 1970s. Under the ordinances, all gambling activities which were not played on a social occasion for non-business purpose were unlawful except some specifically permission offered by the Home Affairs Bureau (HAB). Among all these exemptions, horse race betting and the Mark Six Lottery were the most prevalent and influential gambling activities. Hong Kong Jockey Club was the sole operator to organize these two gambling activities under SHA’s supervision. Over the past decade, the Government has revised and implemented a series of new initiatives including the authorization and regulation of football betting, a reformation of duty system for horse race betting, and allowing additional local horse racedays and simulcast of international horse races for betting. The Government claims that a practical and pragmatic approach has been adopted in the formulation of gambling policy so that the balance of demand and views of opposition can be made. However, concern groups worry that such initiatives will encourage more people to take part in gambling activities, which may induce many social problems. This paper will attempt to adopt the analytical framework of Kenneth J. Meier’s model of policy process to evaluate the policy outcomes and social impact from the reformation of gambling policy in Hong Kong by illustrating the interaction between four clusters of political actors during three different phases of the policy process. / published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration

Thesis presented in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of MA at the University of the Witwatersrand, 2017 / This thesis examines the role of the Sun City casino within the context of apartheid homeland policy. The casino was established in the bantustan of Bophuthatswana in 1979, following the abolition of gambling in South Africa, with introduction of the 1965 Gambling Act. This study is motivated by two research questions: (1) the political and economic effects of the casino’s operation in Bophuthatswana; and (2) Sun City’s promotion of Bophuthatswana’s status as an independent state from South Africa. The research for this project was obtained through archival and manuscript materials, oral interviews as well as newspapers archives. The thesis is divided into five chapters which track the trajectory of Sun City’s development. The development and construction of Sun City are explored with regards to the financial contributions by the Bophuthatswana and South African governments. Secondly, the role that the governments of Bophuthatswana and South Africa played in the development of the casino and the political impact thereof. Further, the employment at the casino is investigated, regarding the economic promises made to the both the governments by Southern Sun. The area surrounding Sun City had a high unemployment rate and the resort was promoted as means to curtail this problem. The attractions Sun City offered such as burlesque shows and prostitution are discussed, with specific reference to the casino as a place of racial integration and conspicuous consumption. The sanctions and boycotts are explored regarding the cohort of international sporting and musical entertainers hosted at Sun City and the shifts in the boycott following 1990. Lastly, the fall of bantustan policy is outlined, for the reincorporation of bantustan territories into South Africa highlighted questions of gambling legality. This thesis concludes that Sun City brought exposure and infrastructure to Bophuthatswana, but most of the motivations employed to build the casino, such as high taxation, increased employment and the development of a heritage for the ‘Tswana’ people never materialised. The Sun City casino scheme aimed to further enrich individuals such as Kerzner and Mangope and the marketed benefits were not realised for the Bophuthatswana citizens. / XL2018

published_or_final_version / abstract / Sociology / Master / Master of Philosophy