Gambling in context: a social network analysis of disordered gambling

Introduction: Disordered gambling poses a significant challenge to affected individuals, their social connections, medical practitioners, addiction counsellors, and researchers (Churchill and Farrell, 2008). Although precise statistics are difficult to obtain, most recent estimates suggest that there are approximately 12,000 disordered gamblers in Ireland alone, though this figure does not include individuals who are at considered to be at moderate (35,000) and low risk (90,000) to gambling-related harm (Ó’Ceallaigh et al, 2023). To date, only a few studies have situated disordered gambling within social context and have investigated the importance of social relationships in the context of the different stages of gambling addiction. Method: Drawing on secondary data collected from Boston, MA and Victoria, Australia, this study used a mixed-methods approach to investigate the role of social networks at initiation, maintenance, and cessation stages of a gambling disorder. The project had two primary methodological components. First, the study deployed a quantitative analysis of a Boston, MA dataset surrounding gambling. Second, the study drew on a dual approach of quantitative text analysis and qualitative thematic analysis to explore key themes derived from a collection of interviews from a Victoria, Australia study regarding disordered gambling. Analysis: First, the study used multiple regression models to analyse the effect of having a higher number of friends and family members who are regular gamblers on 1) gambling frequency 2) gambling expenditure, and 3) likelihood of disordered gambling. Second, a dual approach of quantitative text analysis and qualitative thematic analysis explored the key themes from interviews with disordered gamblers and their affected others. Results: Knowing more individuals who are regular gamblers was associated with an increase in both gambling frequency and gambling expenditure for individuals. Social network contacts played significant roles throughout the different stages of a gambling disorder, and social network ties such as friends and family members were found to be critical in understanding how individuals begin gambling, how gambling becomes normalised, and finally for when gambling ends. Conclusion: The results underline the importance of understanding gambling disorder in terms of social context and the roles that individuals, such as family members and friends, play at different stages of gambling addiction. Future preventive campaigns are best placed to consider and to target the role and importance of social networks in the context of gambling disorder.