Ripple Effect

This activity introduces the concept of gambling-related harms, supporting participants in exploring the negative consequences that may be associated with gambling.

Time:

10-15min

Resources:

Flip-chart, post-it notes, pens

Materials to print:

Ripple Effect: Practitioner answer sheet

Ripple Effect

Method

  1. Draw on the flip-chart three concentric areas, resembling a ripple-effect diagram.
  2. Write on the inner area the title Individual, on the second Family, friends, school and work, on the third Community and society.
  3. Divide participants in three groups, giving each a block of post-it notes (preferably a different colour for each group).
  4. Assign to each group one of the three areas of the ripple effect diagram, and ask them to brainstorm the consequences that gambling could have for that area.
  5. Participants can write one consequence per post-it and then stick them all on the flip-chart.
  6. Once the brainstorm is complete, ask each group to explain to the others which consequences they have identified.
  7. Support the conversation by discussing the various gambling-related harms and the links between the three areas. For example, you may want to highlight that gambling may negatively impact also the people and community around the gambler, both in the short term and the long term.
  8. Conclude bringing participants’ attention to any gambling-related harm that you think is missing, using the Practitioner Answer Sheet.