ABSTRACT

This chapter looks at three illustrative case studies in the contemporary global casino industry. These three cases were chosen for very specific reasons: Canada, to showcase its unique gaming industry with strong government involvement; Australia, to show an industry that has evolved and changed with a particular focus on balancing the social costs of problem gambling with using its revenues to generate social benefit; and Macau, because no discussion of the contemporary casino industry would be complete without a thorough analysis of this burgeoning gaming enclave. According to the country's criminal code, gambling in Canada is still technically illegal and has been so since the latter part of the 19th century. Alberta's provincial government denied the First Nations petitions to directly conduct their own casinos for the purpose of revenue generation and increasing jobs for First Nations members. New Jersey voters chose to legalize gambling in Atlantic City only, perhaps in hopes of reviving the faded seaside resort.