Master’s thesis titled »Economic analysis of the negative externalities of irresponsible gambling in selected European countries« addresses the topic of irresponsible gambling in four selected European countries: The United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Slovenia. Due to the fact that gambling poses considerable addiction hazard, enables the occurrence of fraud, money laundering, and other related criminal offences, gambling has typically been banned or severely restricted, furthermore it has always been associated with high moral hazard. Today, new challenges in regulating this field arise due to the development of new technologies and the growing on-line gambling offers.
The theoretical part represents the sociological and historical development of gambling, an overview of its clinical and psychological background, and the economic rationality of the consumers in the gambling market. The EU regulatory framework of gambling and those of individual selected countries are presented further on. Based on collected statistical data, the prevalence of problem gambling and the estimated social cost it causes are shown.
The results of a survey conducted to determine the current prevalence of problem gambling, gambling habits and the state of general information on responsible gambling in Slovenia at the level of an average individual are shown in the empirical part.
The master’s thesis tries to show different approaches in the regulation, research on this topic, relevant institutions, prevention, and how individual countries tackle the consequences of problem gambling. Additionally, an assessment of the gravity and topicality of the issue today is made, based on data collected in selected countries.
|
