Socio-environmental factors to experience by casino gamblers in Culiacán, Mexico

Abstract

Gambling and betting have become a consumer product since their industrialization, becoming a normalized activity since the establishment of casinos in the capital of Sinaloa in 2004. A community of gamblers has emerged in the urban space, expressing certain external motivations through socio-environmental factors linked to a particular context. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to describe and analyze the socioenvironmental factors experienced by gamblers in the city of Culiacán. A qualitative methodology with an exploratory and descriptive scope was used with the application of 12 interviews (8 women and 3 men). The results show that the main factors experienced by gamblers are the supply and availability in urban areas, marketing strategies, comfort, and social relationships that stimulate gambling in casinos. It is demonstrated that the growth of this industry is part of the expansion of the interests of large casino industries that have established an institutionalized risk environment in the community.