The purpose of this study was to understand the role of ‘bet with mates’ features in mobile gambling apps in the social lives of young men. The researchers explored how these features are linked to the broader environments of sports clubs and masculine gambling cultures. A total of 12 Australian young men aged 23–30 years old were interviewed in 2023. Overall, the findings highlight how sports clubs and masculine gambling cultures are central to the understanding of young men’s use of sports betting apps. Gambling is seen as part of the ‘boys’ sport club’, providing a way to connect with other men. For the participants, gambling, masculinities, and friendship often seemed to be synonymous. Mobile apps allowed them to bet at anywhere and anytime, extending these social interactions beyond the physical spaces of sports clubs. The researchers argue that gambling apps are an example of how financial thinking is embedded in everyday social life and turns aspects of friendship and sports fandom into monetized practices.
