Gambling involves putting something of value (money, possessions or time) on an event that is uncertain and carries some risk. It can cause serious harm to physical and mental health, relationships and performance at work or study and result in financial stress, debt and homelessness. It also harms families, friends and the wider community.
Problem gambling can begin with small bets or even just trying out a new game online or in a casino. It can trigger a rush of pleasure in the brain that is similar to the feeling of a drug, but it can become addictive and ruin lives. People can lose their homes, family or jobs, get into debt and end up with poor health, mental illness and a legacy of harmful behaviour that can pass between generations.
A lot of the research on gambling harm is framed through psychological and economic models of individual behaviour and addiction, but a nascent corpus of socio-cultural approaches to this issue is emerging. A social practice theory approach is particularly helpful for considering the way in which a number of different forces can shape and reshape gambling practices, including rituals, discourses and rules, and broader socio-cultural constructs like mateship, success, thrill and adventure and hedonism.
In addition to the many psychosocial influences on gambling practices, the proliferation and accessibility of betting products and the aggressive marketing of gambling in TV, sponsorship, social media, branding and other forms of advertising have contributed to the rise in problem gambling. These factors are often exacerbated in vulnerable situations by personal life events, such as separation or the loss of a loved one; poverty and social disadvantage; and a lack of access to other recreational activities.