An Unsafe Bet? – The Dangerous Rise of Gambling and the Debate We Should Be Having

Jim Orford is Emeritus Professor of Clinical and Community Psychology at the University of Birmingham. He is the author of several books on addictions including Excessive Appetites (1985, 2001), Community Psychology (1992, 2008) and, with colleagues, Gambling and Problem Gambling in Britain (2003).

Preface. Section I: Gambling is Growing. 1. The Extraordinary International Growth of Gambling. 2. The Rise of Gambling in Britain. Section II: Gambling is Dangerous. 3. Gambling Addiction. 4. Modern Addiction Theory Applied to Gambling. 5. Does the Fault Lie in the Person or in the Product? Section III: Gambling is Controversial. 6. Discourses of Gambling: ElevenWays of Talking About the Subject. 7. Public Attitudes Towards Gambling Are Negative. 8. The Costs and Benefits of Gambling for Society: A Hotly Contested Subject. Section IV: Gambling Expansion is Not Being Challenged. 9. Governments Are Complicit in Supporting the Interests of the Gambling Industry. 10. Trapped: The Disempowering Effects of Failure to Challenge the Growth of Gambling. 11. Conclusions and Recommendations: The DebateWe Should be Having. Sources. References. Index.