Gambling as social practice: a complementary approach for reducing harm?

Abstract

BackgroundGambling is now a well-recognised public health issue and forms the focus of extensive harm reduction initiatives. Recent developments in policy, practice and technology, such relaxation of regulations, the increasing influence of global gambling corporations, and the development of devices such as mobile phone apps and fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) mean that the landscape is a complex, dynamic, and fast moving one. Gambling is now practiced using new technologies, in various spaces and places, and features in a range of social surroundings. Therefore, research is needed to inform appropriate gambling harm reduction strategies that can respond to this complex domain. Yet, research and policy approaches to the reduction of gambling harm are predominantly framed through psychological and economic models of individual behaviour, addiction, and ‘rational’ action. This is beginning to change, with a growing corpus of socio-cultural approaches to gambling research now emerging.MethodIn this article, we argue the case of recognising gambling as a social practice, the performance of which draws upon multiple elements such as technology and materials, spaces and places, language and discourse, and structures and agency. We call for a practice theory approach to gambling research that joins efforts to move beyond individual gamblers and their behaviour, to also acknowledge the interaction of multiple elements shaping gambling practices. To achieve this, we suggest that research methods such as visual ethnography can be helpful.ConclusionWe set out how a social practice perspective to gambling research can generate different insights and help inform more nuanced and appropriate gambling harm reduction initiatives.

Perspective of Internet Poker Players on Harm-Reduction Strategies: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Future research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of HR strategies, including limit-settings, with the aim of increasing the effectiveness and acceptability of such interventions in representative samples of gamblers [20,60]. HR strategies may also benefit from perspectives acknowledging the socio-cultural influences on Internet-gambling related harm [61]. Involving users in the development and assessment of the results highlights the importance of involving users in the assessment of HR strategies.…”

Gambling with the Windigo: Theorizing Indigenous Casinos and Gambling in Canada

“…1). In their analysis, Reith and Gordon (2019) call for a social practice theory approach since, Practice theory can help foster a shift in gambling research from a focus on gambling as related to individual choice, or as entirely configured by political, economic, and social structures. Practice theory provides a way to acknowledge both structure and agency in gambling which acknowledges the body, mental activities, discourses, materials, social norms, and social structures (para.…”

“…There is limited theoretical engagement on the issue of Indigenous casinos in Canada, and the situation is comparatively similar in the United States. Furthermore, gambling studies are, for the most part, dominated by biomedical theoretical models focused on addiction, though there is an emergent social and cultural academic engagement (e.g., Nicoll, 2019;Gordon & Reith, 2019;Raylu & Oei, 2004). Approaches to Indigenous gambling studies include, for instance, mythology (e.g., Gabriel, 1996); literary analysis and research on the cultural form of gambling (e.g., Pasquaretta, 2003); sovereignty (Light & Rand, 2005); ethnography and the culture of casino money (e.g., Cattelino, 2008); gambling harm (e.g.…”

The geography of gambling: A socio-spatial analysis of gambling machine location and area-level socio-economic status

“…In gambling research, a number of studies have focused on individual behavior and individual level factors such as cognition and personality (Gordon & Reith, 2019;Reith 2007). However, in recent years, an emerging body of research has provided evidence concerning the positive correlations between physical access to gambling opportunities and gambling behavior (Lester, 1994;Pearce et al, 2008).…”