The power of false narratives in the public debate about gambling. Reflections from the Italian case.

Drawing from different studies which investigated the gambling issue in Italy from different sociological perspectives (Rolando & Scavarda, 2018; Rolando et al. 2020; 2021; 2023) the presentation will focus on representations and narratives prevalent in the social debate. Particularly it will focus on the main communication strategy and justifications used by the legislature and the industry, i.e. framing the issue as a problem of individual nature, and claiming the need for revenues and the necessity to contrast the illegal market. This rhetoric will be discussed in light of scientific evidence and available data, showing its fallacy.

Being one of the biggest gambling markets in the world, with a long and steady liberalization process that arouse conflicts between the national and local levels, Italy provides an interesting case for understanding the contradictions underlying gambling policies, particularly the conflicts between economic interest and public health, and between the interests of the State and local authorities (Aimo et al. 2023). By reporting an attempt to introduce a significant reduction in gambling supply, which was effective but not able to affect the public debate, nor to survive, the speech will also provide an example of the stakeholders’ role in (not-evidence based) policies formulation.

Combining theoretical reflections and data, the paper frames the issue of gambling from a public interest perspective and provides arguments for the need to reframe the issue of gambling as an outcome of political rather than individual choices and responsibilities (Ukhova et al., 2023) and as a matter of social inequity even before it is a matter of health.

References

Aimo, N., Bassoli, M., & Marionneau, V. (2023). A scoping review of gambling policy research in Europe. International Journal of Social Welfare.

Rolando, S., & Scavarda, A. (2018). Italian gambling regulation: Justifications and counter-arguments. Gambling policies in European welfare states: Current challenges and future prospects, 37-57.

Rolando, S., Ferrari, C., & Beccaria, F. (2023). “To me, it was Just a Vice”. Stigma and Other Barriers to Gambling Treatment in Piedmont, Italy. Journal of Gambling Studies, 1-17.

Rolando, S., (...) & Beccaria, F. (2021). Italian gamblers’ perspectives on the impact of slot machine restrictions on their behaviors. International Gambling Studies, 21(2), 346-359. 

Rolando, S., (...) & Beccaria, F. (2020). The social debate about gambling regulation in Italy: An analysis of stakeholders’ arguments. International Gambling Studies, 20(2), 296-314.

Ukhova, D. et al. (2023). Public health approaches to gambling: a global review of legislative trends. The Lancet Public Health.