Gambling involves wagering something of value on an uncertain event, with the aim of winning something else of value. Traditionally, gambling is understood to involve betting money on sporting events like football games or horse races. But gambling also takes place in a private setting, where friends or family may wager chips on card games such as poker or blackjack. It can also be found in online social games, where participants bet on the outcome of a virtual game or event.
While there is a wealth of research on gambling that focuses on individual behaviour and addiction, a smaller corpus of socio-cultural approaches considers the wider social and regulatory environment in which gambling occurs. This nexus of practices approach offers an alternative way to understand the complexity of gambling and its associated harms.
The nexus of practices perspective is particularly useful in analysing how gambling forms part of a broader practice bundle that includes other activities such as eating, drinking and socialising. It can also be applied to the ways in which a particular cultural construct may suffuse the practice of gambling. For example, it could be argued that the neoliberal ideology of globalisation, marketisation and liberalisation has suffused gambling through its alignment with ideas of status, success and western modernity.
Understanding the context and cultural factors that shape gambling can help us develop effective strategies for prevention, treatment and harm reduction. It is important that we recognise how people use gambling to self-soothe unpleasant emotions and cope with boredom. It is therefore important to find healthier and more effective ways of dealing with these feelings. These can include exercising, spending time with non-gambling friends, trying new hobbies and practicing relaxation techniques.
Another factor that shapes gambling is the perception that it can be a source of financial gain. This can be a false belief, as it is usually the case that gamblers lose more than they win. This is why it is important to only gamble with disposable income and never spend money that is needed for bills or rent.
The traditional explanation for pathological gambling is that it is caused by psychological factors, and this has been largely supported by research. However, it is important to consider that these factors are not the only reasons for pathological gambling. Other causes may be behavioural-environmental, such as a general theory of addictions or reward deficiency syndrome, and/or socio-cultural factors, such as morality.
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling issues, there are many support services available. Seek help as soon as possible. You can also get help by talking about your problem and sharing experiences with others. You can do this anonymously and confidentially at a specialised treatment service for gambling problems. Alternatively, you can contact a support service for other issues, such as depression, stress, or substance abuse, to address the underlying problems that might be contributing to your gambling behaviour. You can find a list of these services at our helpful links page.