Affordability as the Fourth A: Extending the Ecological Framework for Urban Gambling Risk and Policy

Session Title

Poster session

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Start Date

27-5-2026 12:00 AM

Abstract

The rapid expansion of commercial casinos in urban centers worldwide, from Macau and Singapore to London and New York City, has intensified debates over the economics benefits and social costs of gambling. While the established Three-As Ecological Framework--Acceptability, Accessibility, and Availability--has guided research on gambling exposure and risk, affordability remains underexplored, particularly in high-cost metropolitan environments. This poster advances the Four-As Ecological Framework by formally integrating Affordability as a fourth, structural construct, offering a comprehensive lens for evaluating urban gambling across global contexts. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, market data, and case studies, the poster illustrates how casino proximity, pricing structures, and participation costs interact with ecological factors to shape gambling behavior and community outcomes. In Macau, high-density casino districts with elevated minimum bets have reshaped participation; in Singapore, integrated resorts prompted regulatory interventions addressing affordability next to access; in London, digital gambling platforms raise new questions about financial risks; and in New York City, casino proximity and higher average poverty levels were associated, highlighting how regulatory expansion and financial exposure intersect with socioeconomic conditions. These cases demonstrate affordability as a pivotal, yet overlooked, driver of gambling intensity and harm in global cities.

Author Bios

Paulette J. O’Gilvie, PhD, MBA, CCGC, is an accomplished scholar and academic leader with expertise spanning business, higher education, public service leadership, and human services. She is a casino and gambling researcher who also serves as Faculty Chair and Associate Professor of Human Services and Behavioral Studies at American Baptist College, a Christian HBCU in Nashville, TN.

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May 27th, 12:00 AM

Affordability as the Fourth A: Extending the Ecological Framework for Urban Gambling Risk and Policy

The rapid expansion of commercial casinos in urban centers worldwide, from Macau and Singapore to London and New York City, has intensified debates over the economics benefits and social costs of gambling. While the established Three-As Ecological Framework--Acceptability, Accessibility, and Availability--has guided research on gambling exposure and risk, affordability remains underexplored, particularly in high-cost metropolitan environments. This poster advances the Four-As Ecological Framework by formally integrating Affordability as a fourth, structural construct, offering a comprehensive lens for evaluating urban gambling across global contexts. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, market data, and case studies, the poster illustrates how casino proximity, pricing structures, and participation costs interact with ecological factors to shape gambling behavior and community outcomes. In Macau, high-density casino districts with elevated minimum bets have reshaped participation; in Singapore, integrated resorts prompted regulatory interventions addressing affordability next to access; in London, digital gambling platforms raise new questions about financial risks; and in New York City, casino proximity and higher average poverty levels were associated, highlighting how regulatory expansion and financial exposure intersect with socioeconomic conditions. These cases demonstrate affordability as a pivotal, yet overlooked, driver of gambling intensity and harm in global cities.