White Collar Punters: Stealing from the boss to Gamble

Publisher:
Southhood Press
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Citation:
Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 2003, 15 (1), pp. 40 - 52
Issue Date:
2003-01
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Gambling provides a significant motivation for employee theft. Recent research suggests that problem gambling provides a motivation for at least 15% of employee thefts in Nevv South vVa1es. Problem gamblers may steal from their places of employment either to finance their gambling or to repay gambling debts. The reasons why a person gambles excessively impact upon their offending pattems. Problem gamblers who believe that they will win, may initially 'bonow' money from work, in order to finance additional gambling to win back money they have lost. When they do not win, the continued irrational belief that they will win, provides the motivation to continue stealing in order to provide a big enough stake to win back the money they have lost and stolen. Additionally, if a person gambles to avoid stress or depression, and then steals from work to finance their gambling, this thieving can then become a major cause of stress in and of itself. This leads to sustained stealing from the workplace until the problem gambler is apprehended.
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