The prevalence of gambling and problematic gambling: a systematic review and meta-analysis
September 2024
Citation:
Tran, L. T., Wardle, H., Colledge-Frisby, S., Taylor, S., Lynch, M., Rehm, J., Volberg, R., Marionneau, V., Saxena, S., Bunn, C., Farrell, M., & Degenhardt, L. (2024). The prevalence of gambling and problematic gambling: a systematic review and meta-analysis [10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00126-9]. The Lancet Public Health, 9(8), e594-e613. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(24)00126-9
Gambling behaviours have become of increased public health interest, but data on prevalence remain scarce. This study aimed to estimate for adults and adolescents the prevalence of any gambling activity, the prevalence of engaging in specific gambling activities, the prevalence of any risk gambling and problematic gambling, and the prevalence of any risk and problematic gambling by gambling activity.
Existing evidence suggests that gambling is prevalent globally, that a substantial proportion of the population engage in problematic gambling, and that rates of problematic gambling are greatest among those gambling on online formats. Given the growth of the online gambling industry and the association between gambling and a range of public health harms, governments need to give greater attention to the strict regulation and monitoring of gambling globally.
Read the full article in The Lancet Public Health.
