Gambling is often seen as a risky form of entertainment that provides excitement, challenge, social interaction, and potentially financial gain. However, gambling can also cause serious harm and have a negative impact on families, communities, and society. In this article we consider the role of socio-cultural factors in the development and maintenance of gambling-related harm, and how these can be addressed through interventions and policies.
While there is a wealth of gambling research focused on individual behaviour and addiction, there is a smaller, but growing, corpus considering the role of the wider social, regulatory, and commercial environment that shapes gambling-related behaviour. The latter approach is important for framing a more holistic and nuanced understanding of gambling-related harm. It is also an important perspective from which to develop interventions and policies.
A range of different perspectives on gambling are held by researchers, psychiatrists and other treatment care clinicians, and public policy makers. These vary according to disciplinary training, world views, and interests. This has resulted in a rich and varied literature on the causes of gambling-related problems. These have included recreational interest, diminished mathematical skills, cognitive distortions, mental illness, and moral turpitude.
There has been a recent surge in the number of people with pathological gambling disorder. This has been attributed to changes in technology, new modes of communication, and increased media coverage. While it is possible that these changes are playing a role, there is also likely to be a number of non-psychological factors that have contributed to the increase in problem gambling.
For example, many people begin to gamble at a younger age and are more likely to be in poverty, which makes them more vulnerable to the lure of a large win. Moreover, the social and emotional context of gambling can lead to increased risk-taking, with individuals more likely to gamble when feeling angry or depressed. This can lead to increased vulnerability and the likelihood of relapse.
A more comprehensive approach to understanding the nature of gambling-related harm should also consider how language and discourse are shaped by specific social environments. This includes the language used in advertising and within social groups, with research to date showing that power hierarchies in friendship groups shape expectations on how much to bet and how to spend winnings. In addition, the use of language relating to humour and mateship can have particular meaning for certain social groups.
While there is no magic cure for gambling-related harm, there are a number of things that can be done to help prevent and reduce it. A good starting point is to budget for gambling and only ever gamble with money that you can afford to lose. In addition, make sure that you never use money intended for other purposes such as rent or bills. And finally, try to find healthier ways to relieve unpleasant feelings like boredom or anxiety. This could include exercising, spending time with friends who don’t gamble, or practicing relaxation techniques.
