Why Do Asians Gamble So Much?
Posted: November 27, 2019
Updated: January 13, 2020
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There are deep cultural and supersitios roots around the idea of luck
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Gambling is a form of healthy social interaction
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The gambling addict will lose status in the community
Image Source: Flickr
Why do Asians gamble so much? Whenever you’re in a casino, have a look around at the people playing and the same question always comes up. According to the Chinese, “We have this saying in Chinese: if you don’t gamble, you don’t know how lucky you are.”
Introduction: Why do Asians Gamble So Much?
Without a doubt, Asians are some of the world’s biggest gamblers. Research in the US shows that Asians have a much higher number of pathological gamblers (from 6 – 60%) compared with national rates of 1 – 2%. Many Asians gamble as a form of social interaction. They even say that a little gambling is good for the health. For most people, it’s a fun and enjoyable pastime. Like playing Intertops Poker!
Wave to the Lucky Cat
Apparently, 80% of all monies wagered at the major casinos in the US comes from the hands of Asians. It’s the same for the superstition and the notion of “luck”, to a much greater degree than Western cultures. Furthermore, they carry a much greater sense of the “self” and winning or losing carries a greater weight of identity. Asians also tend to feel a sense of predetermination, that the fates or the Gods can give a blessing leading to success. Hence the number of lucky charms you can see in all Asian market places.
It’s a Cultural Thing
Various studies have shown that Eastern cultures do most definitely have a propensity towards gambling. As stated above, they easily fall prey to “superstition” and “luck”. For the Chinese, these factors mean that gambling is pretty much ingrained within their society. It’s part and parcel of their culture. For example, during the Lunar New Year, gambling dens are chock full of people playing poker, mahjong, blackjack and various other games of dice. Another factor is that modern Chinese are much more obsessed about money. They watched their parent suffer during Mao, and have a deep fear of being without. This leads to recklessness.
Why do Asians Gamble So Much? Maj Jong and Go
China
In 2014, the Chinese app maker WeChat introduced a service called Hong Bao, which translates into “red packet”. This is the traditional envelope given at weddings, birthdays and the New Year. But the app quickly morphed into a lottery. The rules were simple: “the group member who receives the least amount of money is required to start the next round by issuing a Hong Bao envelope containing an amount equal to or greater than the amount he/she received”. The member who is allocated the highest amount naturally wins the round.
Japan
There are over 3.2 million gambling addicts in Japan. Though gambling is meant to be illegal, there are still over 12 thousand pachinko parlors all over the country. The sound is unmistakable as the steel balls rattle through the machines. Across the water, South Koreans have set up lucrative gambling sites in Thailand. This is because gambling is highly illegal in South Korea.
Do You Want Chips With That?
Of course, US casinos, and online casinos like the problem gambler will receive short change from any community. The shame and stigma that go hand in hand will see that person gradually lose their virtue in the community.
