Gambling spaces: socially motivated gambling in Danish upper-secondary school

In some Danish schools, gambling is talked about as a normal part of being a young man. Why do some young men gamble? This paper examines the role of community in the gambling practices of young men to expand our knowledge on the motivations behind gambling. Other research points to social motives as one of several motivations for gambling, but more knowledge is needed on social gambling practices. This paper presents empirical data from ethnographic fieldwork in a Danish upper-secondary school collected spring 2023. Specifically, I analyze data from a class where young men play on digital slot machines and sports betting. I understand the young men’s group as an affinity space, and through this framework analyze their norms, identities and practices. These connect the men to each other, the rest of the school and a culture beyond the school. Through these analyses, I show an example of a socially constructed gambling space in Danish school. I argue that social motives and a sense of belonging are important motivational factors in these young men’s gambling. By showing actual practices, I expand our knowledge on social motivation for gambling. I argue that this knowledge has implications for prevention.