Young People at Higher Risk
According to the Commission, children and adolescents are being targeted by gambling advertisements in ways previously unimaginable. These advertisements often promote the allure of easy money, while online platforms deploy game-like designs that mimic the structure of traditional video games. This combination makes young people particularly susceptible to gambling habits that could become problematic or even lead to full-blown addiction. In calling for stronger regulation, the Commission emphasized that the long-term impacts on youth are severe, potentially leading to lifelong gambling disorders.
The Global Scale of the Crisis
The report, based on an extensive systematic review and meta-analysis, found that approximately 448.7 million adults globally are at risk of gambling. This includes anyone who experiences at least one adverse behavioral, social, or health consequence linked to gambling. Of this group, around 80 million adults are estimated to suffer from gambling disorder, a serious condition marked by uncontrollable urges to gamble despite harmful consequences.
Online Casinos and Sports Betting: A Growing Concern
The study found that gambling with online casino products or slot machines results in gambling disorders in 15.8% of adults and an alarming 26.4% of adolescents. Similarly, sports betting—a market that has seen significant growth in recent years—impacts 8.9% of adults and 16.3% of adolescents. The easy accessibility of online gambling, combined with strategic, targeted advertising, makes gambling a 24/7 risk for anyone with internet access.
“Unlike the traditional Las Vegas casino or a lottery ticket,” explained Professor Heather Wardle, Co-Chair of the Commission from the University of Glasgow, “anyone with a mobile phone now has access to what is essentially a casino in their pocket, 24 hours a day.” This shift in accessibility has been compounded by large technology companies, which use sophisticated marketing strategies to keep users engaged, potentially leading to significant health risks.
“Easier to Start, Harder to Stop”
Wardle highlights how modern technology and marketing techniques make it not only easy to start gambling but incredibly difficult to stop. “Highly sophisticated marketing and technology make it easier to start, and harder to stop gambling,” she added. “If we delay, gambling and gambling harms will become even more widely embedded as a global phenomenon and much harder to tackle.”
The harmful impacts of gambling extend beyond financial loss. Gambling addiction is linked to a range of personal and societal issues, including physical and mental health problems, relationship breakdowns, increased risks of suicide, domestic violence, crime, and loss of employment.
A Call to Protect Future Generations
Dr. Kristiana Siste, a Commissioner from Universitas Indonesia, has called on policymakers to take immediate action to shield children from gambling’s harmful effects. “The risks of developing gambling disorders later in life due to early exposure to gambling are clearly evident,” she stated, underscoring the need to limit youth exposure to gambling promotions and products. The Commission strongly urged policymakers to treat gambling as a public health issue, likening it to the control measures used for alcohol and tobacco.
An Urgent Appeal to Policymakers
The report makes a compelling case for regulatory action, advocating for gambling to be viewed as a pressing public health issue. By treating gambling with the same seriousness as other public health risks, policymakers can help preserve the well-being of the next generation and mitigate the devastating impacts of gambling addiction worldwide.
The Lancet Public Health Commission’s report underscores the critical need for immediate, global regulatory reform, highlighting that without action, the cycle of addiction and societal harm may deepen, leaving millions more at risk.
