Un’agenda di ricerca per la sociologia del gioco d’azzardo

Abstract

The paper advances a research agenda for the Sociology of Gambling. Firstly, it reviews the different approaches on the phenomenon within Gambling Studies. The medicalised model of gambling, centred on the concept of problematic gambling, is still predominant, while a fragmented body of sociological literature has addressed the topic since the end of the XIX century. Our argument is that the analysis of the social processes at the root of both gambling practice and industry is crucial to put forward a sociological comprehension of gambling. Finally, we propose the main topics to be developed within the sociological research on gambling: the role of social stratification in modelling gambling practices; the transformation of gambling in a cultural industry; the relationship between gambling industry, the State and policy makers; gambling as a form of recreational consumption; the relationship between gambling and risk.