Editor's note

I’ve lived in Melbourne my whole life, and there’s always a bit of magic in the air on AFL Grand Final day. It’s easy to become swept up in the frenzied emotions of the competition and, with heavy marketing from betting companies before, during and after the game, it’s no wonder so many Australians whip out their phones and place bets.

In fact, Australia leads the world on gambling, with our betting losses per adult 50% higher than second-placed Singapore. We’re a sporting nation, and gambling is entrenched in our culture.

But behind the scenes is a raft of gambling-related harms. The social cost of gambling is conservatively estimated at A$4.7 billion per year. As Ross Gordon writes, if we really want to do something about it, we first need to de-normalise sports betting as an everyday social practice.

Anthea Batsakis

Deputy Editor: Politics + Society

Top stories

Normalising betting through popular apps mean people who wouldn’t traditionally bet, such as females on a night out with male friends, are now getting involved. Darren England/AAP

The odds you’ll gamble on the Grand Final are high when punting is woven into our very social fabric

Ross Gordon, Queensland University of Technology

Debate about gambling has raged throughout the AFL season, but it’ll take a cultural shift for there to be any meaningful change.

A supporter of Ashraf Ghani takes part in an election rally in Kabul last month. Jawad Jalali/EPA

Afghanistan’s suffering has reached unprecedented levels. Can a presidential election make things better?

Safiullah Taye, Deakin University; Dr. Niamatullah Ibrahimi, Deakin University

According to a recent survey, Afghans rate their lives worse than anyone else on the planet. The election is unlikely to be a game changer considering the magnitude of challenges facing the country.

AAP Image/Sea Shepherd Australia

Shark nets and culls don’t necessarily make Australian beaches safer

George Roff, The University of Queensland; Christopher Brown, Griffith University

Queensland can no longer cull sharks in protected areas of the Great Barrier Reef, but it's time to move away from culls, nets and drumlines altogether. There are better ways to keep our beaches safe.

There’s nothing worse then a sore pimple. But there’s a few things you can do to avoid a breakout. Wes Mountain

‘How do I control my oily skin and prevent pimples?’ A dermatologist explains

Celestine Wong, Monash Health

Oily skin can be a real pain, especially if it leads to pimples. A few simple tricks can keep your skin healthy and decrease the chance of a breakout.

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