How consumption becomes reterritorialized: An interdisciplinary investigation of sports betting

Event details

Abstract

What happens for consumers when territories of consumption are changed? Gambling generates significant health and social harms. Yet there is little research on the use of mobile smartphone betting apps and how this has changed consumption, even though sports betting is the fastest growing segment of the gambling market.

This presentation will share findings from an Australian Research Council Discovery project that aims to better understand how young adults use, communicate about and experience mobile phone sports betting applications. This interdisciplinary study drawn upon assemblage theory, and theories of social practice, and combines ethnography and cognitive neuroscience methods to examine how use of sports betting apps is becoming established as everyday social practice – normalising problem gambling.

Ross will share insights on how changes in technology in the form, scale, intensity and spaces and places of gambling that are mediated by smartphones, sports betting apps and gambling marketing have changed the consumption territory. Ross will also consider implications for gambling risk and harm for consumers. Finally, the presentation will reflect on how study findings can inform gambling policy and programmes leading to better health and social outcomes.

Biography

Ross Gordon is a Professor at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane in the School of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations, QUT Business School. He is also an Honorary Professor at Coventry University, Centre for Business in Society.  

His work focuses on social marketing, consumer cultures, and critical marketing teaching and research. Ross is a member of the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. He works across various behaviour and social change issues including gambling, Covid-19, energy, climate action and environmental sustainability, alcohol, gambling, tobacco control, mental health, workplace bullying, and critiques of neoliberalism.

Ross has been a principal or named investigator on projects attracting over $8.1m in research funds. He has published over 90 academic journals, book chapters and conference papers and a leading book: Strategic Social Marketing: For Behaviour and Social Change published by SAGE. In his spare time Ross is a keen player and follower of sports including playing football, some tennis and cycling, loves travelling, enjoys current affairs, and is a big music fan and occasional techno DJ.

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