The world’s population is gambling like never before, and without government action, a public health crisis is imminent, according to new research. An international commission studying the global impacts of the continued expansion of gambling has concluded that easier access to games of chance poses a significant threat to public health.
The Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling, comprising 22 medical doctors and PhD researchers with expertise in health and public policy, has released a report titled “Time for a Public Health Response to Gambling.” The commission’s findings reveal that the ongoing global expansion of gaming presents wide-ranging harms affecting not only an individual’s health and well-being but also their finances and relationships.
The report highlights that the movement of gamblers to online channels, alongside the legalization of casino gambling in new countries and states, is raising public health concerns. The commission’s introduction notes that governments, often conflicted due to the benefits they gain from taxes and industry revenues, have ignored the understanding of gambling-related harms for too long. These authorities have traditionally focused on individual responsibility and high-risk individuals, neglecting the broader public health implications. It’s now crucial to balance public health with competing economic interests, the report urges.
Global gaming revenue, representing losses incurred by players, is projected to reach nearly $700 billion a year by 2028. Currently, gambling in some form is legal in about eight out of ten countries, and online gambling is almost ubiquitous, irrespective of its legal status.
The commission is calling on governments and policymakers in regions where gambling is permitted to treat it as a public health issue, akin to other addictive products like alcohol and tobacco. The report emphasizes the critical need for “effective gambling regulation,” which includes reducing the public’s exposure to gambling through limiting or prohibiting advertising and establishing universal support and treatment programs for gambling harms. The health and policy experts critique the prevalent responsible gaming programs, arguing that placing the responsibility of seeking help on the individual is inadequate.
The investigation particularly criticizes online gambling and interactive products, which the commission describes as “more intense gambling products” due to their fast-paced nature. Traditional gambling products, such as lotteries and bingo, now operate faster cycles and are accessible continuously via smartphone apps. The boundaries between digital gaming and gambling are increasingly blurred, with gaming often serving as a gateway to gambling.
Commission Co-Chair Heather Wardle, a professor of gambling research at Scotland’s University of Glasgow, remarked that anyone with a mobile phone essentially carries a casino in their pocket, accessible 24 hours a day. She pointed out that sophisticated marketing and technology make it easier to start gambling and harder to stop.
The commission concludes with a warning about the likely defense from the gaming industry, which often claims that its products are enjoyed by millions who do not suffer adverse consequences, thus arguing that regulatory recommendations unfairly limit individual freedoms. However, the commission debunks these assertions as deeply misleading, highlighting the government’s duty to protect citizens from harmful and addictive products and advocate for a public health response to gambling.
The American Gaming Association responded by stating that the industry has made significant investments in advancing responsible gaming initiatives and expanding consumer resources to promote safer gambling. Joe Maloney, AGA’s Senior VP of Strategic Communications, affirmed the industry’s support for ongoing discussions and the adoption of best practices.
