Gambling As a Social Practice
Gambling involves the risking of something of value on an event with the aim of winning something else of value. It is a complex social practice and an important component of human culture. People gamble for a variety of reasons, from recreation to the pursuit of riches. Although many people enjoy gambling, a minority of individuals develop problems that negatively impact their lives and the lives of those around them. Pathological gambling has become an increasingly recognized disorder. It is thought that this change stems from an increased recognition of the relationship between gambling and psychiatric disorders, as well as a shift in the way in which gambling is perceived as a mental health issue.
The vast majority of gambling research and harm reduction strategies are framed through psychological models that consider individual behaviour, addiction and ‘rational’ action. However, there is a growing corpus of literature considering the wider socio-cultural and economic contexts that shape and influence this behaviour. This article aims to identify and review this emerging body of work in order to develop an understanding of gambling as a social practice and inform the development of a new, interdisciplinary field of study.
It is estimated that 2.5 million adults have a gambling problem. This represents 1% of the population, a proportion similar to that of alcohol use disorders (8%), drug addiction (7%), and bipolar disorder (9%). Despite these high numbers, many people do not seek help for their gambling problems because they are not aware of the risk of developing a problem. Moreover, the public perception of gambling is that it is fun and harmless.
While there are no medications specifically designed to treat gambling disorders, some drugs can be used in conjunction with counseling and support groups to help manage some of the underlying issues that may be contributing to a person’s gambling behavior. There is also a growing role for evaluating patients for gambling-related disorders in primary care settings.
Family therapy is a useful tool for helping loved ones cope with someone with a gambling problem. It can help them understand the underlying issues that lead to problematic gambling and provide a framework for resolving them. It can also help a family member set boundaries when managing money and to avoid chasing losses. It is important to remember that it is a person’s choice whether to gamble and that only they can make the decisions about how much to bet, what to bet on and when to stop. In addition, it is important to be clear about the expectations and roles of each member of the family. This will prevent one member of the family from becoming the “gambling enabler.” This can be difficult, but it is essential to preventing the cycle of gambling addiction and debt. Finally, it is important to know that it is normal to lose some bets, and to treat any winnings as a bonus rather than as an investment. This will help you avoid making the all too common mistake of chasing your losses, which almost always leads to Bet Regret.
