Harrah's Ethical Dilemmas

Harrah’s Dilemma

Introduction Harrah’s use of technology and customer information to draw in gamblers to their casinos illustrates a number of interesting ethical considerations. Advances in neuroscience have provided a better understanding of how the brain works in relation to addictions and gambling. Some people have predispositions that can make them naturally attracted to different compulsions. Angie Bachmann was an individual that seemed to have such a predisposition to gambling and Harrah’s Casinos took actions that played to her particular habits. This case illustrates the ethical dilemmas that are involved in coaxing someone into self-harming behaviors. Angie’s debts may be entirely legal, yet they are also entirely unethical. However,

People can bet on sports games, scratch cards, or any of the fast-paced games in a casino or online. Gambling addiction, also known as compulsive gambling, is a type of impulse-control disorder; compulsive gamblers can’t control the impulse to gamble, even when they know their gambling is hurting themselves or their loved ones (HelpGuide.org). Although the financial aspects of compulsive gambling are often the focal point of measuring the harm to individuals, there are also other detrimental effects other than money.

Gambling is not a financial problem, but an emotional problem that has financial consequences (Nordqvist). Gambling is also associated with symptoms such as depression, craving, remorse, loss of control, loss of sleep, stress, and obsession among others. Many people can inadvertently develop unhealthy gambling habits if they are not aware of the risks and understand how to gamble responsibly. There seems to be some evidence that there is a genetic predisposition that people can have which draws them to problems with addictive behaviors which can also include drugs and alcohol

The legalization of gambling makes it possible for more people to be exposed to the risky consequences that are associated with this practice. Many studies have shown that state’s that have legalized gambling have increased the percentage of the population that have a gambling addiction – sometimes by more than a factor of three. It is not just the individuals with the gambling addiction that suffer. One study showed that since casinos came to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, domestic violence has increased 69% and an estimated 37% of all pathological gamblers have abused their children