Members of criminal organizations – Are they pathological gamblers?

Kelvin Yick Paul Khiatani Chine Y.Chan

Tiffany H.M. Tse Dr. Chi Chuen Chan

Upper Iowa University – Hong Kong Campus

Contents:

Background Research hypothesis and aim Research methodology Participant demographics Results Discussions Limitations

Background • Criminal organizations have an extensive history; possibly dating

back 5 centuries or more.

• Criminal organizations may be differentiated in one of two ways: Ideological or Corporate. Both, however, often seek ‘globalization’.

• Many types of criminal organizations can be found today. For example:

- Chinese Triads - Japanese Yakuza - Italian Mafia - Russian Mafia. • Common types of crimes includes: Loan sharking, smuggling, illegal

gambling, corruption, and violence.

Background • In criminal organizations, gambling first-hand serves as a way to

earn profit, socialize, and earn more power.

• However, gambling also presents the opportunity to prey on those susceptible to gambling behavior regularities (e.g. borrowing money).

• Thus, gambling plays an integral role in Criminal organization operations (Ferentzy & Turner, 2009).

Introduction • Being arrested are commonly reported amongst arrested

pathological or problem gamblers, as found by Potenza, Weinberg, & Wu (2005)

• Criminals employed a wide range of criminals acts – frauds and con games, robbery, deception, stealing – to pay off debts and/or finance their gambling habits (Livingston, 1974; Lesieur, 1977; Blaszczynski, Steel, & McConaghy,1997; Griffiths, 2011).

• In fact, this is clearly depicted in most movies and TV series– e.g. The Godfather, The Casino, Hustler

Background • common criminal behaviors of Chinese triads in Hong Kong include: - Street-level narcotics trafficking - Operation of illegal casinos and gambling houses - Football gambling - Loan sharking in Hong Kong and in Macao, Shenzhen, and

Guangdong Province. • common profit generating activities of Chinese triads include: - Prostitution - Counterfeit goods - Street-level illicit substances selling (e.g. drugs, cigarettes, fuel)

Background • Throughout the years, reports on Triad-related crimes have shown

to slightly be decreasing in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Police Report, 2012).

• Triad-related crimes in Hong Kong includes homicides, human or

contraband smuggling, loan sharking, money laundering, gambling-related offences, and more (Hong Kong Police Report, 2012)

Background • Chinese triads are becoming increasingly involved with public

industries – such as the entertainment industry (casinos, sex industry, etc) and public transport (e.g. taxis, private cars).

• The involvement and operations of the Chinese triad is becoming increasingly ‘globalized’ – e.g. influencing Macao’s gambling industry, migrating to Western countries (e.g. 14K, a triad-based group in HK, is the second largest Triad group internationally), and expanding their trafficking operations to more countries.

Research hypotheses and aims • The present qualitative study sought to investigate the classification

for gambling behaviors of triad-related members in Hong Kong by examining their gambling habits, background, and lifestyle.

• The follow are the hypotheses of the study: - Hypothesis 1: Majority of the Triad-related members would meet

the diagnostic criteria for pathological gamblers. - Hypothesis 2: Triad-related members gamble mainly for excitement

and socializing purposes. - Hypothesis 3: Triad-related members would express little

motivation to seek treatment for their gambling problems.

Research methodology • Study sample consisted of 18 active triad-related members (N=18).

The participants were recruited using the snow-balling approach.

• The study administered: - Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI) of the Canadian Problem

Gambling Severity Index (CPGI) (Ferris & Wynne, 2001) - The DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for Pathological gambling

(American Psychiatric Association, 2000) • The study also involved a clinical semi-structured interview,

conducted by an experienced clinical psychologist.

No. Pseudonym Gender Relationship status Occupation Education level Age group

1 Sammy M Widow Triad leader Secondary 40+ years old

2 Kwan M Married Triad leader Primary 50+ years old

3 Ivan M Married Triad leader Primary 55+ years old

4 Hershey M Re-married Triad leader Secondary 50+ years old

5 Ben M Single Triad leader Secondary 35+ years old

6 Chan M Girlfriend Triad leader Primary 40+ years old

7 Fish M Girlfriend Triad leader Secondary 40+ years old

8 Tin Tin M Married Triad leader Secondary 55+ years old

9 Timmy M Married Triad leader Secondary 45+ years old

10 Fat M Married Triad leader Primary 50+ years old

11 Aaron M Girlfriend Triad member Secondary 20+ years old

12 Leung M Divorced Triad member Primary 55+ years old

13 Hitch M Single Triad member Secondary 25+ years old

14 Marvin M Girlfriend Triad leader Primary 50+ years old

15 Ash M Single Triad member Secondary 40+ years old

16 Andrew M Girlfriend Triad member Secondary 30+ years old

17 Alan M Single Triad leader Secondary 45+ years old

18 Allen M Girlfriend Triad member Secondary 35+ years old

Participant demographics • All 18 participants were males. Youngest: 20+ years old; Oldest: 55+ years old

• Relationship status:

Relationship status

Single, 5

Girlfriend, 6

Married, 6

Widow, 1

Single

Girlfriend

Married

Widow

Participant demographics • 12 of 18 participants identified themselves as Triad leaders.

• 6 of 18 participants identified themselves as Triad members.

Triad member, 6

Triad leader, 12

Triad member

Triad leader

Participant demographics • 6 of 18 participants’ education level was at a Primary level.

• 12 of 18 participants’ education level was at a Secondary level.

• 0 of 18 participants attended tertiary institutions.

Education level

6

12

0

Primary school education

Secondary schooleducation

Tertiary school education

Results • Triad members (n=6) assessment scores: Highest score: (9,11); Lowest score: (5,4) Average scores: - DSM-IV score: 6.67 - CPGI score: 7.17 • Triad leaders (n=12) assessment scores: Highest score: (6,6); Lowest score: (3,1) Average scores: - DSM-IV score: 4.58 - CPGI score: 4.42

No. Pseudonym Years gambling DSM-IV CPGI Substance/drug use Sought treatment? Prison experience Superstitions

1 Sammy 30+ years 6 6 Smoking and drugs No Yes Yes

2 Kwan 40+ years 5 7 Alcohol No Yes Yes

3 Ivan 45+ years 5 7 Alcohol and drugs No Yes Yes

4 Hershey 40+ years 4 7 Alcohol No Yes Yes

5 Ben 25+ years 5 5 Drugs No Yes No

6 Chan 30+ years 6 4 Smoking and drugs No Yes No

7 Fish 30+ years 4 2 Smoking No Yes No

8 Tin Tin 45+ years 3 3 Smoking and alcohol No Yes No

9 Timmy 30+ years 3 1 No No Yes No

10 Fat 35+ years 5 5 Alcohol No Yes No

11 Aaron 5+ years 7 6 Smoking No Yes (Youth detention Centre)

No

12 Leung 40+ years 9 11 Drugs No Yes Yes

13 Hitch 10+ years 7 6 Smoking and drugs No Yes No

14 Marvin 40+ years 4 2 No No Yes No

15 Ash 20+ years 5 4 Smoking No Yes Yes

16 Andrew 10+ years 5 9 No No Yes No

17 Alan 20+ years 5 4 No No Yes No

18 Allen 15+ years 7 7 Smoking and drugs No Yes Yes

Results • All of the participants (n=18) had a prior experience of arrest, had a

criminal record, and served time in prison.

• Offences for arrest included drug-related offences and other criminal-related offences (corruption, extortion, and violence).

Results

• 6 of 18 participants had co-morbid substance/drug abuse conditions

Substance/Drug abuse habits

Smoking, 8

Alcohol, 5Drugs, 7

None , 4

02468

1012141618

Smoking Alcohol Drugs None

Results

Superstitions

Yes, 7

No, 11

Yes

No

• 7 of 18 participants reported having superstitions relevant to their gambling habits and day-to-day lifestyle.

• 11 of 18 participants reported not having any superstitions relevant to their gambling habits and day-to-day lifestyle.

Results • How many learnt gambling during childhood? 9 out of 18 started in

Childhood • How many learnt during young adulthood? 8 out of 18 started in

teenage years • How many learnt during adulthood? 1 out of 18 started in adult years

Results • A majority of the triad-related gamblers indicated that gambling was

a form of social lifestyle and played it for socializing purposes (33%) or sensation-seeking (28%), not for the personal monetary gains from gambling wins (19%).

• For instance, the triad-related gamblers would gamble in between making business proposals.

Motivations for gambling

28%

0%

19%33%

14%6%

Excitement

Escape

Money

Socializing

Business

Relieve boredom

Results • None of the participants reported having sought out treatment for

their gambling problems.

• All of the participants were not aware of their gambling problems and, as a result, all of the participants expressed the need not to seek help or treatment for their gambling problems. Additionally, all of the participants expressed no intention to consider treatment in the future.

Discussions • Hypothesis 1: Supported.

• Individuals involved in deviant and risky subcultures, e.g. drug

abuse and criminal engagement, are more likely to meet the criteria for pathological gambling than the conventional gambler in society (Brañas-Garza, Georgantzís, & Guillen, 2007; Tochkov, 2010).

• Excitement-seeking gamblers were more likely to demonstrate symptoms of that being considered at-risk for development into pathological gambling (Pantalon, Maciejewski, Desai, & Potenza, 2008).

• Being a pathological gambler, and part of the triad, presents the gambler with even more opportunities to satisfy their need for excitement (e.g. drugs, more money for gambling).

Discussion • Hypothesis 2: Supported.

• As briefly mentioned earlier, gambling is a heavily involved activity in

the Chinese triad culture – both as a part of their business culture and part of their entertainment and traditional Chinese culture. The triad leaders were socialized in this culture and thus gambled mostly for socializing (entertainment and business)

• Brañas-Garza, Georgantzís, & Guillen (2007): pathological gamblers, similar to other addicts, with experience a criminal background, are often motivated to gamble due to the excitement and ‘rush’ derived from the risky behavior.

• In such case, with respect to the Pathways development model of problem and pathological gamblers (Blaszczynski & Nower, 2002), Triad members may be classified as being the antisocial-impulsivity subtype of problem gamblers, while Triad leaders can be classified as the behaviorally-conditioned gamblers.

Discussion • Hypothesis 3: Supported.

• All of the participants did not express any motivation to seek

treatment whatsoever.

• The triad culture encourages gambling; thus, supporting the Theory of reasoned action (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980).

• To the Triad, gambling is part of their life, be it in the form of entertainment or their ‘work’, so why would they give it up?

Discussion • So, are members of Criminal organizations (e.g. the Chinese Triad)

pathological gamblers?

• Yes, they are.

• Analysis on participant’s characteristics, background, gambling habits, and lifestyle suggest that they correspond to pathway 3 (antisocial-impulsivist gamblers)

Criminal organization (Chinese Triad) Triad leader Triad member

Behavior: They gamble everyday, 24/7. Plays only with other triad leaders or people they know. Bets high and shows no chasing regularities.

Behavior: Gambles when they have the opportunity to do so. Plays with anybody then ca. Bets high (feels the risk it betting high) and shows significant chasing regularities.

Psychological: Think about gambling everyday and at any given time. Gambling is perceived as a type of ‘work’ to them; wake up, gamble, do business, and then go back to sleep again.

Psychological: Always thinking about winning in gambling and trying to earn a lot. Frequently thinks about gambling.

Environmental: Fully immersed in the gambling culture. They do not have any fixed offices, so they spend their time in businesses they own, such as Mahjong houses and illegal gambling restaurants.

Environmental: Gambles whenever possible. Because they are unemployed, they tend to follow others to gamble or go to Macao to gamble. Always in search of the opportunity to win over others or deceive them for personal monetary gains (e.g. borrowing money, stealing money)

Limitations • The present research involved a highly specific sample group

(active, triad-related, 18+, and involved in gambling). Recruitment of these gamblers have been difficult. The sample pool was male-dominated.

• As well, due to the recent law enforcement endeavors in cutting down triad-related crimes, some of the interviewees rejected interviews.