What is Gambling and How Can it Affect You?

Gambling is the practice of risking something of value (money, property, reputation, health etc) on an uncertain event in which the outcome depends on chance. It is often a highly addictive activity, and research into gambling has highlighted that there are a significant number of people who experience harm as a result of their addiction to gambling.

While most people can enjoy the occasional flutter without harm, it is important that governments and health organisations understand how gambling can cause problems and how to help those who do suffer from its consequences. Rather than focusing on banning gambling, which would be impractical and repressive, it is vital to focus on improving our understanding of the phenomenon.

A social practice theory approach offers a new way to analyse gambling in terms of its cultural, economic and regulatory contexts and the structures that influence it. It enables us to look at how five different forces – critical, normative, market ideology and neoliberalism – suffuse a nexus of practices such as those of consumption, marketing and socialising [12].

For anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else’s gambling habits, there are services which offer support, assistance and counselling for those affected. Depending on the service, these services can assist with reducing gambling behaviour, stopping it altogether or dealing with the impact on family and friends. Some also provide educational material for those who wish to learn more about gambling and how to minimise risk.