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Vicious Games: Capitalism and Gambling
Gambling is everywhere, on our TVs and phones, on billboards on our streets, and emblazoned across the chests of idolised sports stars. Why has gambling suddenly expanded? How was it transformed from a criminal activity to a respectable business run by multinational corporations listed on international stock markets? And who are the winners and losers created by this transformation?
Vicious Games is based on field research with the people who produce, shape and consume gambling. Rebecca Cassidy explores the gambling industry's affinity with capitalism and the free market and how the UK has led the way in exporting 'light touch' regulation and 'responsible gambling' around the world. She reveals how the industry extracts wealth from some of our poorest communities, and examines the adverse health effects on those battling gambling addiction.
The gambling industry has become increasingly profitable and influential, emboldened by thirty years of supportive government policies and boosted by unnatural profits. Through an anthropological excavation, Vicious Games opens up this process, with the intention of creating alternative, more equitable futures.
Vicious Games is based on field research with the people who produce, shape and consume gambling. Rebecca Cassidy explores the gambling industry's affinity with capitalism and the free market and how the UK has led the way in exporting 'light touch' regulation and 'responsible gambling' around the world. She reveals how the industry extracts wealth from some of our poorest communities, and examines the adverse health effects on those battling gambling addiction.
The gambling industry has become increasingly profitable and influential, emboldened by thirty years of supportive government policies and boosted by unnatural profits. Through an anthropological excavation, Vicious Games opens up this process, with the intention of creating alternative, more equitable futures.
- GenresNonfiction
240 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 26, 2026
With the rise of neoliberalism a different approach was taken. Online gambling, betting machines,
It's nearly impossible to navigate modern Western society without encountering gambling. Whether it's the shirt sponsor of your favorite football club or a billboard encouraging you to play the lottery or a raffle to raise money for charity, gambling is seemingly everywhere. This hasn't always been the case.
In Vicious Games: Capitalism and Gambling, Rebecca Cassidy shows us how we got here, steering us through betting shops, casinos, and boardrooms. She spent countless hours interviewing bookies, gamblers, CEOs, and bureaucrats, even working in multiple shops to get first hand experience.
The book focuses on the UK. Until the 90s gambling advertisements were banned. Before the 80s betting shops weren't even allowed to have televisions. They were required to black out their windows, the idea being that they should not be allowed to stimulate demand.
With the rise of neoliberalism a different approach was taken. Online gambling, betting machines, advertising, etc. were all allowed. The industry saw explosive growth.
Cassidy shows that the industry's prevailing ideology is one of "responsible gambling." It pushes the responsibility for avoiding harm onto individual gamblers. These companies provide "resources" like funding for gambling addiction hotlines but at the same time use sophisticated data analytics to push offers and notifications to their customers to keep them betting. Companies will even ban customers who win too often.
Public health studies show that the negative consequences of gambling are worse than most people realize. For every "problem gambler" there are six people impacted, be they family, friends, etc. She advocates for a different approach with the metaphor that we should put "a stronger fence at the top of the cliff, not an ambulance at the bottom."
This book has a ton of good statistics and historical info. It shows how overlapping circles of industry and regulators create laws that benefit big companies. The qualitative and personal approach she takes has pros and cons. Some of the interviews are insightful and some of them end up feeling tedious. A relevant book, especially with companies like Kalshi and Polymarket growing in influence.
It's nearly impossible to navigate modern Western society without encountering gambling. Whether it's the shirt sponsor of your favorite football club or a billboard encouraging you to play the lottery or a raffle to raise money for charity, gambling is seemingly everywhere. This hasn't always been the case.
In Vicious Games: Capitalism and Gambling, Rebecca Cassidy shows us how we got here, steering us through betting shops, casinos, and boardrooms. She spent countless hours interviewing bookies, gamblers, CEOs, and bureaucrats, even working in multiple shops to get first hand experience.
The book focuses on the UK. Until the 90s gambling advertisements were banned. Before the 80s betting shops weren't even allowed to have televisions. They were required to black out their windows, the idea being that they should not be allowed to stimulate demand.
With the rise of neoliberalism a different approach was taken. Online gambling, betting machines, advertising, etc. were all allowed. The industry saw explosive growth.
Cassidy shows that the industry's prevailing ideology is one of "responsible gambling." It pushes the responsibility for avoiding harm onto individual gamblers. These companies provide "resources" like funding for gambling addiction hotlines but at the same time use sophisticated data analytics to push offers and notifications to their customers to keep them betting. Companies will even ban customers who win too often.
Public health studies show that the negative consequences of gambling are worse than most people realize. For every "problem gambler" there are six people impacted, be they family, friends, etc. She advocates for a different approach with the metaphor that we should put "a stronger fence at the top of the cliff, not an ambulance at the bottom."
This book has a ton of good statistics and historical info. It shows how overlapping circles of industry and regulators create laws that benefit big companies. The qualitative and personal approach she takes has pros and cons. Some of the interviews are insightful and some of them end up feeling tedious. A relevant book, especially with companies like Kalshi and Polymarket growing in influence.
February 21, 2021
Detailed account of the cartel that is the gambling industry
As a former gambling looking to support those impacted by gambling harm, this brought into sharp on what I'm up against. There is no way the industry is going to do anything worthwhile with regards to responsible gambling. Hard to read without getting angry at the greed
As a former gambling looking to support those impacted by gambling harm, this brought into sharp on what I'm up against. There is no way the industry is going to do anything worthwhile with regards to responsible gambling. Hard to read without getting angry at the greed
July 26, 2020
Peasant morals brought forth as reason, old ideas and shady observations brought forth as science.
December 11, 2025
Some great ideas, some great ethnographic "data", but apparently written to be as objective and dry as possible. A great resource on the topic for those after something specific.
April 16, 2026
A deep dive into various kinds of gambling in the UK and how its changed (mostly becoming more deregulated and more tech-enabled) over time.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews