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Lecturer(s)
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Fiedor David, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
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Kovařík Filip, Mgr. Ph.D.
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Frajer Jindřich, doc. Mgr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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The course covers five thematic areas in which students are gradually introduced to the geography of gambling as an academic discipline, assess its social and economic impacts, analyse the development of gambling venues in the Czech context, and examine the regulatory and accessibility aspects of gambling. 1. Introduction to the geography of gambling (Weeks 1-2) The geography of gambling as an academic discipline; basic terms and concepts; the historical development of gambling; types of gambling and their characteristics; the spatial dimension of gambling; research approaches and methodology; an overview of key studies and research traditions. 2. The costs and benefits of gambling (Weeks 3-5) The economic benefits of gambling; revenue for public budgets; employment and tourism; the social costs of gambling; problem and pathological gambling; impacts on various population groups; the spatial distribution of costs and benefits; methodological approaches to measuring them. 3. Gambling venues in the Czech Republic and their development (Weeks 6-8) The development of gambling in the Czech Republic since 1989; types of gambling venues and their characteristics; the spatial distribution of gambling venues; factors influencing the location of gambling establishments; spatial concentrations and their determinants; changes in the distribution of gambling venues over time; online gambling and its spatial aspects. 4. Gambling and local authority budgets (Weeks 9-10) Tax allocation in the Czech Republic; the tax revenue distribution system; taxation of various forms of gambling; local authority revenue from gambling; the regulatory paradox - local authorities' dependence on gambling revenue; examples from Czech towns and municipalities; comparison with international practice. 5. Regulation and accessibility of gambling (Weeks 11-13) Physical and temporal accessibility of gambling; daily exposure to gambling venues as a measure of accessibility; approaches to regulating gambling; regulation at national and local levels; players' adaptive behaviour in response to changes in accessibility; spatial and substitution adaptation; comparison of regulatory approaches across international contexts.
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Lecture, Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Group work
- Homework for Teaching
- 24 hours per semester
- Attendace
- 26 hours per semester
- Preparation for the Course Credit
- 15 hours per semester
- Preparation for the Exam
- 25 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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The aim of this course is to familiarise students with the relatively new yet rapidly developing field of gambling geography. Students will gain an understanding of the fundamental concepts of this discipline and place them within a broader geographical and social science context. The course examines gambling as a spatial phenomenon - students will evaluate its costs and benefits from a spatial perspective and critically assess its impacts on various population groups and types of territory. Considerable attention is paid to the Czech context: students will describe the development of gambling venues in the Czech Republic, analyse the factors influencing their distribution and changes, and explain the relationship between gambling and local authority finances, including the role of local-level regulation. The course concludes by focusing on the availability and accessibility of gambling as a geographical issue and by linking theoretical knowledge with specific examples from Czech practice.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: - explain the basic concepts of the geography of gambling and place them within a broader geographical and social science context, - assess the costs and benefits of gambling from a spatial perspective and critically evaluate their impacts on different population groups and types of territory, - describe the development of gambling venues in the Czech Republic and analyse the factors influencing their distribution and transformation, - clarify the relationship between gambling and local authority finances and assess the role of the regulation of gambling venues at the local level, - analyse the availability and accessibility of gambling as a geographical issue and link theoretical knowledge to specific examples from the Czech context.
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Prerequisites
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Basic knowledge of working with data.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Mark, Written exam, Student performance
The requirements for earning credit for the course include regular preparation for class and active participation during class. Once these requirements are met, students may take the written exam.
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Recommended literature
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Nikkinen, J., Marionneau, V., & Egerer, M. (Eds.). (2022). The Global Gambling Industry. Wiesbaden.
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Raento, P., & Schwartz, D. (Eds.). (2011). Gambling, Space, and Time: Shifting Boundaries and Cultures. Las Vegas.
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Reith, G. (1999). The Age of Chance: Gambling in Western Culture. London.
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