Crime and Deviance

Overview

Deviant behaviour is any thought, word, or action that a specific audience considers as inappropriate or wrong. Crime and deviance are closely associated. Specifically, criminal activities are often seen as deviant, and in many cases deviant behaviours (as judged by society) can become criminalized. This was the case with gambling and alcohol consumption during periods of prohibition.

Key Points

Research suggests there may be a relationship between gambling, criminal activities and deviance. For example, research suggests a connection between harmful gambling and some monetary crimes. Some individuals commit crimes because of their gambling activities (e.g., they steal money to feed their high involvement in gambling). For others, gambling-related crimes may just be one of several risky behaviours in which they engage.

White Paper

GREO's white paper, Problem Gambling and Crime and its Costs, gives a more detailed overview of the connections between problem gambling and crime, and recommendations for prevention and treatment of problem gambling and crime.

Search the Evidence Centre for Crime and Deviance

References

Blaszczynski, A., McConaghy, N., & Frankova, A. (1989). Crime, antisocial personality and pathological gambling. Journal of Gambling Behavior, 5(2), 137-152.

Turner, N. E., Preston, D. L., Saunders, C., McAvoy, S., & Jain, U. (2009). The relationship of problem gambling to criminal behavior in a sample of Canadian male federal offenders. Journal of Gambling Studies, 25(2), 153-169.

McMillen, J. (1996). Understanding gambling. Gambling cultures: Studies in history and interpretation, 6-42.