“In today’s world, gambling no longer seems marginal: online betting has become a normalized part of leisure for millions,” Forbes observers note. In recent years, gambling industry revenues in many countries have grown by tens of percent, drawing in more and more young people.
This trend is alarming: the gambling business affects not only the economy, but also families, destinies, and the spiritual resilience of society. How should we respond to the spread of gambling? Can the research and experience of Father Richard McGowan help find an answer to this challenge?
Father McGowan: who he is and why his opinion matters
Richard McGowan is a Jesuit priest, professor of economics at Boston College, and one of the world’s leading experts on the issue of gambling. Over his long career, he has earned the nicknames “the priest of sin” and “the father of probabilities.” These epithets reflect the unique combination of his work at the intersection of morality, economics, and social psychology.
McGowan is known as the author of the books “The Gambling Debate” and “Government and the Transformation of the Gaming Industry,” and as a permanent member of the board of the National Center for Responsible Gaming. His approach to the problem combines spiritual vision and scientific rigor, allowing him to analyze the phenomenon of addiction from different perspectives.
Gambling and other “sin industries”
The concept of “sin industries” includes gambling, alcohol sales, and tobacco. These sectors bring billions of dollars to national budgets, create jobs, and replenish the treasury through taxes. However, such economic benefits are accompanied by significant costs.
Research published in the Journal of Gambling Studies shows: increased availability of gambling is associated with a rise in the number of addicts, family breakdowns, increased crime, and psychological trauma. According to Professor Jennifer Griffin of Loyola University Chicago, “the impact of the gambling business goes beyond economics and requires thoughtful regulation.” An important question arises: what is the price of economic growth if it is accompanied by profound social upheavals?
Online gambling—new challenges for youth
Gambling is a system of commercially organized games of chance in which participation is based on betting and the probability of winning. With the advent of the internet, boundaries have disappeared: now one can play around the clock, from anywhere, without witnesses. According to McGowan, the internet has made gambling especially accessible and dangerous, particularly for young people.
Key factors are intrusive advertising, anonymity, and ease of registration. “Many articles show that it is young men who become the main risk group,” McGowan reminds in an interview with Boston College News. Data from the American Psychiatric Association confirm: since 2018, the number of cases of gambling addiction among teenagers has increased by almost 30%. How can we protect the younger generation from being subtly drawn into risk?
The growth rate of the online casino industry worldwide not only meets expert forecasts but exceeds them. The gambling industry demonstrates impressive results in attracting audiences. For this, a wide variety of tools are used, including the active development of new projects. Crash games, which appeared not so long ago but already have millions of fans, can serve as a notable example.
The first project in this genre was Aviator. It showed colossal results for a gambling game—already more than 10 million active users. Projects that followed, such as Jet-X, were also commercially successful. On the page jet-x.com.in, our authors found information that such games are offered by large licensed online platforms. Statistics show that with their appearance, the audience of online casinos has increased significantly.
The more people become involved in the online gambling industry, the greater the risks of addiction. New games are all the more dangerous because they are specifically designed to attract the younger generation. For young people, gambling is the new norm. And this fact is of particular concern to church ministers.
Ethical and spiritual aspects of addiction
The impact of gambling is not limited to economic losses. According to Father McGowan, loss of control destroys not only material well-being but also the spiritual foundations of the individual. He draws a parallel between alcohol addiction and gambling addiction: both undermine willpower, disrupt relationships with loved ones, and cloud spiritual vision.
Historically, Jesuits have been involved in helping addicts, and the foundation of the well-known “12-step” program belongs to a Jesuit priest. McGowan emphasizes: “When a person becomes so absorbed in gambling that they lose themselves, they lose the ability to realize their inherent gifts and to build a relationship with God.” How can people regain meaning and inner balance in a world of temptations?
Practical approaches to harm reduction
McGowan is convinced: effective prevention can reduce the destructive impact of gambling. Among his proposals:
- large-scale information campaigns about risks
- government support for assistance programs for addicts
- restriction of intrusive advertising
- transparency of game mechanisms
In the United States, hotlines and posters saying “Have a gambling problem? Seek help” have been introduced, but real work on informing is often limited to formal measures. For example, risk warnings in TV broadcasts rarely last more than a few seconds. Why doesn’t the state invest more in prevention if the scale of the problem is growing?
Personal influence and educational activity of McGowan
In addition to research, Father McGowan conducts educational and pastoral work among students. He regularly organizes trips to countries with a different economic structure—for example, to El Salvador. There, participants study how microeconomics and finance develop under conditions of poverty.
Many students note that such trips open their eyes to true values and teach gratitude. How does young people’s perception of life change after meeting McGowan and immersing themselves in a different social experience?
Inspiring stories of change: the example of Diaz-Bazan
Gerardo Diaz-Bazan, a former student of McGowan, grew up in El Salvador. It was the trip with the professor and acquaintance with local economic realities that prompted him to decide to return to his homeland after graduating from college. “This experience made me more optimistic and purposeful,” recalls Diaz-Bazan. Importantly, even if students are not directly interested in the topic of the gambling business, McGowan’s personal example and approach have a profound influence on their life choices, attitude toward themselves and others.
The mission and values of Jesuits in modern society
Jesuits are a community for whom helping others, education, and spiritual development are the main priorities. The tradition of supporting people with addictions, embodied in the “12-step” program, has existed for decades. McGowan emphasizes: a scientific approach combined with spiritual practice provides unique tools for overcoming addiction. Is it possible, in an era of rapid industry growth, to find a balance between economic development and the preservation of society’s spiritual health?
Different viewpoints and acknowledgment of complex issues
The discussion about the legalization of gambling does not subside: supporters point to economic benefits, opponents—to social and moral harm. The increased availability of gambling inevitably leads to more cases of addiction, as confirmed by data from the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
A complete ban on the gambling business faces problems of the illegal market and lack of control. It is necessary to acknowledge the complexity of the situation: personal freedom, business interests, and government responsibility are intertwined in a contradictory tangle.
A comprehensive approach to the problem is the only way not to lose control of the situation. It is necessary to combine economic analysis, ethical principles, and spiritual reflection. How can modern society combine freedom of choice with protecting vulnerable groups from the destructive power of addiction? This question remains open and requires further joint work by experts, religious figures, and the education system.