Identity Communication of the Middle-Class Underground Lotto Gamblers

Abstract

                This research aims to qualitatively study identity communication of middle-class underground lottery gamblers by conducting 4 following methods: field observation, participation observation, in-depth interview and snowball technique. The sampling technique in the research is non-probabilistic and purposive sampling conducted among middle-class underground lottery gamblers in Nakhon Ratchasima. 
                The results found that 8 informants engaged the underground gambling for exhilaration, pleasure and networking. The middle-class informants prefer to gamble via their acquaintances or intimates. In terms of socio-economic background, these middle-class informants are famous socializers who are both overseas graduates and domestic graduates and have legal occupations as well as modern lifestyle. The amount of money spent in a stress-relieving activity during the economic impact caused by politics. Furthermore, these gamblers rely on sacred things in which they believe and expect that these sacred things would bring about success in their lives. Gambling, along with the 3 frameworks reveal 3 perspectives of gambler’s identities communication. First, from outsides’perspective, underground gamblers are professional businessman and accurate number predictors who are blessed with good luck. Second, through media, identities were presented by gamblers themselves as persons who are risk-seeking, joyful, solvent, helpful, philanthropic and friendly person lucky with the gambling and generous with sharing lucky numbers. Third, from internal perspective, they identify themselves as careful and responsible persons who are free of gambling risk and not serious about gambling. Thus, despite illegality, they accept exposing themselves, yet, to the confined area of real world and social network.