Gambling Harm Awareness in Professional Cricket

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Gambling Within Elite Sport

Gambling Harm Awareness in Professional Cricket Gambling Within Elite Sport

We are now going to look at why as a professional cricketer you are potentially more vulnerable than the rest of society.

There has always been a link between gambling and sport. However, in recent years, increased sponsorship, more visible advertising and advances in technology have added to the gambling culture and made placing a bet even more accessible.

While Bookmakers are still a familiar sight on High Streets across the country, there are so many more private and accessible ways to gamble.

Everyone has access to a smart phone, giving them the ability to place a bet 24/7 on any sporting event across the world anytime day or night. It’s like having a mobile casino in the palm of your hand.

Academic research on gambling has shown that professional athletes, and those involved within the sporting environment, are statistically at greater risk of problem gambling than the general population.

There are several reasons why this is the case for athletes.

Click each card below to learn more

Competitiveness
Being competitive is a natural attribute for an athlete. However, a high degree of competitiveness often leads to increased risk-taking behaviour.
Winning
The desire to capture the thrill and euphoria of winning
Loneliness
Gambling can be seen as a way of relieving boredom and loneliness when away from home, or as something to do when unable to compete due to an injury.
Defeat
The inability to accept defeat is linked to an athlete’s mentality, and the need to continue to do something in order to become good at it can be directly linked to loss chasing.
Belonging
The influence of others and wanting to ‘fit in’ if working in a competitive team environment.

But it is not just you as a professional cricketer who is vulnerable, others involved in the sport – coaches, umpires etc – are also statistically at increased risk from gambling harm due to:

1

The nature of being around and working in a competitive environment where your main aim is winning and being successful

Academic research on gambling has shown that professional athletes, and those involved within the sporting environment, are statistically at greater risk of problem gambling than the general population.
2

Being involved in cricket can lead you to believe that your knowledge of the sport may give you a significant advantage, therefore lowering the perceived risk of gambling and potentially increasing its appeal

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