Ripple Effect
This activity explores gambling-related harms by opening up conversations around the negative consequences of gambling experienced by those who gamble, as well as affected others, the wider community and society at large.
Time:
15-20min
Resources:
Flip-chart, post-it notes, pens
Materials to print:
Ripple Effect: Practitioner answer sheet
Method
- Draw on the flip-chart three concentric areas, resembling a ripple-effect diagram.
- Write on the inner area the title Individual, on the second Family, friends, school and work, on the third Community and society.
- Divide participants in three groups, giving each a block of post-it notes (preferably a different colour for each group).
- Assign to each group one of the three areas of the ripple effect diagram, and ask them to list the consequences that gambling could have for that area.
- Participants can write one consequence per post-it and then stick them all on the flip-chart.
- Once their discussion is complete, ask each group to explain to the others which consequences they have identified.
- Support the conversation by discussing the various gambling-related harms and the links between the three areas. For
example, you might want to highlight that on average, 6 people are affected by one person’s harmful gambling. What might this mean for the wider community, in the short and long term? - Conclude bringing participants’ attention to any gambling-related harm that you think is missing, using the Practitioner Answer Sheet.
Alternative options:
If it’s a small group, you could do this activity without splitting participants into teams.
A different option could focus on consequences affecting Health, Relationships and Resources, as described in the Practitioner Answer Sheet.