Gambling addiction a ‘threat to public health’, warns report

It’s everywhere.

Celebrities like Drake post on Instagram about their winnings from online casinos. Podcasts study sports games. Friends work nonchalantly “parlay” in group texts.

Gambling has reached new levels all over the world.

A new report from an international commission of 22 health and policy experts warns of the dangers of gambling in an age of easy online access.

“Our conclusion is clear: gambling poses a threat to public health,” said the report published on Thursday Lancet Public Health Journal. Researchers from the World Health Organization and other institutions on five continents said that controlling this growing problem requires “a significant expansion and tightening of the regulation of the gambling industry.”

Gambling disorder, or addiction, has been widely studied for decades. The factors are different than with other forms of addiction: With gambling, people don’t hit a wall—like people overdosing on drugs—unless they run out of money.

And Las Vegas-style slots and game day betting are easier to access than ever.

“Anyone with a mobile phone now has access to what is effectively a casino in their pocket, 24 hours a day,” Heather Wardle, the commission’s co-chair and professor of gambling research and policy at the University of Glasgow, in Scotland, said in a statement. “Highly sophisticated marketing and technology make it easier to start and harder to stop playing,” and users are encouraged to have “repeated and longer engagement.”

Worldwide, nearly 450 million adults engage in so-called “risky gambling,” which can affect finances, mental health, relationships and work, according to the report, which was based on a review and analysis of previous gambling studies. Gambling leads to behavioral changes that affect a person’s life and or health, the report says. About 80 million people come to a more severe form, called gambling disorder or problem gambling.

But the researchers said the number is likely an undercount.

Gambling disorder affects nearly 16% of adults and more than 26% of youth who use online casinos or slot machines, the report estimates. Addiction is estimated to affect almost 9% of adults and more than 16% of teenagers who engage in sports betting.

In addition to causing significant financial losses, gambling can increase a person’s risk of suicide and domestic violence, the report found.

The report reviewed new gambling laws between 2018 and 2023 in 80 jurisdictions, including most US states. It also looked into gambling in countries where it is banned but online access allows it to thrive.

During 2018, The US Supreme Court overturned an earlier ban on sports games. Since then, 38 states have legalized gambling and its popularity has grown exponentially.

The report looked at the rationale behind these laws. US laws tend to focus on possible benefits to revenuewhile European laws focus on hazards to public health.

Researchers recommended that governments prioritize health when legislating gambling rather than the tax money that companies can bring in. The commission narrowed down policy solutions, such as reducing the marketing and availability of games, curbing government influence on games and avoiding research funded by the gaming industry. The report also called for increased oversight to protect children and consumers, domestically and internationally, from the dangerous effects of gambling.

If you or someone you know struggles with gambling, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, operated by National Council on Problem Gambling.