Hey - firstly I am a she! Then I am a PhD ethics student and if you will let me tell you a little more about my work. The view of GA - that the only solution is abstinence has been considered carefully and is fully examined in my work - if not reflected in the survey (which forms only a part of my study). Gamblers are the lifeblood of casinos, online, offline, bookmakers, bingo, online and offline - the whole range. But there is all that classical theory stuff .... ethics, that stakeholders must be protected, CSR is of course a valuable component in business these days. Is being responsible in the gambling industry as profitable as being socially responsible in the coffee bean industry. A coffee buyer can buy coffee beans (I know I am going off the point here but bear with me.... ) for 24 (US cents) but coffee buyers can choose to pay approx $1.41 to $1.61 for Fairtrade coffee beans - knowing that at the price the farmer gets a fair price, can educate his children and replant the land (sustainable farming). Why pay 6 times as much for the coffee beans? Fairtrade coffee sales hit the half a billion pounds mark 2007-2008 - people wanted their coffee to be ethical, socially responsible. I am trying to examine these issues - particularly with relevance to the demand in the UK Gambling Act 2005 - that operators with a UK licence are socially responsible and promote responsible gambling. Part of my work indeed will look at the gambling industry and discuss whether this industry can and should be responsible. Can certain industries have no or little social responsibility? And then I bring in the focus of the 300,000 or so (give or take 100,000) players who are experiencing problems with their gambling - what - if anything can be done - will/do any of the responsible gambling features that are in use - work? If so - for who - If not - what can the indsutry do about it - seeing as they sign up to e-Cogra or the IGC - all industry groups advocating responsible gambling. So my survey may just be important to me - and it is not possible to discuss the theories contained in 200,000 words - but what i need is to hear comments like yours in my survey - and to consider everything I think (?) I know about my topic and offer conclusions and recommendations at the end of my work based upon what gamblers, ex-gamblers, social gamblers, problem gamblers, counsellors, family and friends of gamblers, etc etc say - and pay particular reference to academic studies - and see if there is agreement or significant differences. And I could really do with lots and lots of participation in my survey - please!
