But that may not be a good thing, according to Dr. Thomas Mawhinney, associate professor of psychology at Indiana University South Bend. A specialist in human behavior and learning, Mawhinney is launching a two-year research project to determine how gambling's growth and increasing acceptance are impacting individuals and society.
Previous research indicates that gambling's impact on individuals can be very damaging.
The growth of the gambling industry also may be very damaging to our culture. Regrettably, this culture-wide gambling industry transformation has happened without our knowing the probable consequences. The answers to these questions are crucial if we are going to accurately assess gambling's impact on society. The role government plays in the growth and acceptance of gambling also is a major concern for Mawhinney. They are encouraging their citizens to participate in games of chance that are designed to make the people lose as much money as possible.