Gambling: Optimised for Frictionless Financial Mayhem?

Gambling: Optimised for Frictionless Financial Mayhem?

Author: Gareth King November 2, 2025 Duration: 51:22

It promised to modernise an age-old activity, bringing new convenience to a quick thrill. But has the internet instead delivered a predatory, 24/7 addiction machine that exploits our psychology with algorithms, leading to what many consider a serious public health crisis?

To help us understand what’s really at stake, we’re joined by Mark Kempster, a gambling reform advocate, and member of Australia’s Alliance For Gambling Reform’s Voices of Lived Experience program.

⁠https://www.instagram.com/mark_kempster⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kempster-2925317b/⁠

⁠https://x.com/OffOdds⁠

⁠https://www.agr.org.au/⁠

Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.

Follow the show, let us know what else to look into at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or support us at ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Mark joins us to explore the profound impact of the internet and technology on gambling behaviours, the addictive design of digital gambling apps, and the normalisation of online gambling in society.

We also look at the targeting of vulnerable demographics, the psychological effects of gambling, and the urgent need for reform and regulation to protect individuals and communities from the growing harms of online and digital gambling.

00:00 The Rise of Online Gambling and Its Impact

06:55 Addictive Design of Gambling Apps

11:48 Regulatory Challenges and Industry Influence

15:59 The Role of Data in Targeting Gamblers

23:38 The Future of Gambling Reform in Australia

25:33 The Pervasiveness of Gambling Among Youth

27:57 The Dangers of In-Play Betting

30:46 Normalisation of Gambling in Society

34:49 The Role of Technology in Gambling Addiction

39:03 The Need for Regulation and Accountability

43:33 Advocacy for Change and Hope for the Future


It’s a question that nags at anyone who’s ever felt a pang of nostalgia or a wave of digital fatigue: are we better or worse off because of our constant connection? Hosted by Gareth King, Ruined By The Internet? digs into that uneasy feeling, moving beyond simple headlines to explore how our online world actively moulds society, culture, and the texture of daily life. This isn’t about reviewing apps or gadgets; it’s about treating the digital realm as the pervasive environment it has become. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with leading thinkers and researchers from around the world, dissecting the real evidence behind our shared anxieties and hopes. You’ll hear nuanced discussions that ask whether the casualties we often blame on technology are inevitable, or if we’re simply misdiagnosing deeper societal shifts. This podcast provides a space for considered reflection, offering listeners a clearer lens through which to view their own place in a world that is, for better or worse, thoroughly wired.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 26

Ruined By The Internet? - Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
Podcast Episodes
The Internet: A Corporate Hijacking of Digital Freedom? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:05
The internet was supposed to be where the free exchange of knowledge and ideas happened. Instead, it’s become a place increasingly controlled by a few companies, leading to the regular suppression of inconvenient or unpo…
Truly Disappearing: Powering Our Own Perpetual Surveillance? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:56
The internet has given us unprecedented connection, but thanks to relentless data retention and constant tracking of our every digital move, is it now virtually impossible to shed our old identity and start a new life un…
Social Interaction: The Digital Erasure of Presence? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:25
With its constant presence and insatiable demand for attention, has the internet invaded our offline spaces, diminishing our ability to be truly present, and eroding the quality of our in-person experiences?To help us un…
Music: An Algorithmic Burial of Human Artists? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:12
It promised to empower artists and give listeners infinite choice. But has the internet turned music into a disposable commodity, replaced human curation with algorithms, and made it impossible for most artists to earn a…
The Human Identity: Authenticity or Algorithmic Performance? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
It promised a world of self-expression and connection. But has the internet instead encouraged us to create performative versions of ourselves; curated by algorithms and validated by likes?To help us find the reality, we…
Human Resources: The Era of Digital Reductionism? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:01
It promised to make things more efficient, objective, and data-driven, but has the internet instead turned a human-centric discipline into an automated, impersonal system with new ethical and privacy concerns?To help us…
Video Games: From Finished Art to Perpetual Product? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:21
Through predatory monetisation, rushed development, and profits over player enjoyment, has the joy and escapism of video games been lost?To give us a walkthrough, we’re joined by Steve Wright, owner and Editor-in-Chief o…
Journalism & News: From Fact-Checking to Attention-Seeking? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:22
It promised unlimited reach, direct engagement, and a more informed world. But has the internet instead devalued expertise, creating a ‘clicks and outrage’ economy where speed reigns over accuracy?To help us get the full…
Broadcast Television: The Digital Dismantling of an Entire Industry? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:46
By replacing linear, scheduled programming with huge libraries of on-demand content, have the business models and power structures of traditional tv been toppled for good?To help us see the full picture, we’re joined by…
The Job Hunt: Built to Harvest Data, not People? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:33
It was once a very human-centric process. But for so many of us, has the internet transformed looking for work into an automated, opaque, and intensely competitive digital gauntlet?To help us unpack what’s going on, we’r…