Gambling involves risking money or something of value in a game based on chance. There are many ways to gamble, including playing games like scratchcards and fruit machines, betting on sports or horse races, or by placing a bet with friends. Gambling can be fun and exciting, but it can also lead to financial stress, relationship problems and mental illness. It is important to recognise the signs of gambling harm, and seek help if you are struggling.
The harms caused by gambling include financial stress, family breakdown, domestic violence, poor mental health and even suicide. People who struggle with gambling often do not get the help they need because there are a number of barriers to accessing treatment.
Harm reduction strategies need to address these barriers and reduce the availability of gambling products. This can be done by regulating how gambling advertising and marketing is done, restricting the availability of gambling products and limiting the physical locations where they are available. Providing alternative social activities and reducing the financial risks of gambling can also help.
While there is a wealth of research focused on individual gambling behaviour, attitudes and addiction, there is a smaller but nascent body of work considering the wider socio-cultural, economic and regulatory environment that shapes and influences such behaviour. Applying a social practice theory perspective to gambling research has the potential to move beyond approaches that merely focus on human cognition and behaviour by recognising that the way in which practices become routine and routinised is shaped by the context in which they are performed.
This can be attributed to the way in which various forces frame a nexus of practices. These factors include affect (e.g. pleasure, anxiety), knowledge, materials and objects used in the practice, rules and norms, spaces and places, and power and individual/collective agency. These different aspects shape and influence the practice of gambling, which in turn reinforces gambling culture.
Gambling is framed by the cultural meanings and values that surround it, for example, socio-cultural narratives of mateship and togetherness, the use of the lottery as a form of community support, and competencies on how to play games and understand odds and game playing strategy. It is also framed by the structures and culture of the gambling industry itself, for example, VIP schemes, promotional campaigns, and the aggressive promotion of gambling on television, social media, and through sponsorship of sporting teams.
Gambling is a difficult habit to break, but it is possible to do so with the help of professionals and support groups. A key step is to decide on what your goals are, and how you will reward yourself if you stick to them. It’s also important to think about how other parts of your life would improve if you stopped gambling, and to write down these motivations so you can refer back to them when feeling tempted. Also, try to limit the amount of time you spend gambling by setting a timer or using a gambling app, and consider talking about your problem with someone you trust.
