Study Reveals Nearly 50% of Adults, 18% of Adolescents Engage In Gambling

In a recent study published in The Lancet Public Health, a group of researchers documented the prevalence of any gambling activity, specific gambling activities, risk gambling, and problematic gambling among adults and adolescents globally.

Global study relied on Excerpta Medica Database, Psychological Information Database, and other resources

In the present study, searches were performed on June 21, 2021, and updated on March 4, 2024. Experts used Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), and Psychological Information Database (PsycInfo databases), and Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE).

Non-original research, clinical trials, case-control studies, and studies with fewer than 40 participants were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist.

Publication bias testing was not conducted. Only representative studies reporting past 12-month gambling behaviors were included in pooled analyses using STATA 18.

The systematic review identified 3,692 papers published since 2010. Of these, 580 reports met the inclusion criteria, with 380 unique representative samples from 68 countries. The study encompassed 3,441,720 individuals.

Samples were predominately males from high-income countries with an average age of 29.72 years

Furthermore, the samples were predominantly male, with an average age of 29.72 years. The males were mostly from high-income countries as well.

Data was insufficient from central Asia, Pacific Island states, the Caribbean, and with only one sample from the Middle East. However, the study spanned countries containing 43% of the global population.

Adult samples represented 41% of the global adult population from 43 countries. Adolescent samples also represented 50% from 56 countries.

Of the samples, 366 were involved in the meta-analysis, covering 67 countries: 209 on any risk gambling activity, 299 reported on any gambling activity, and 166 on problematic gambling in the past 12 months.

Among the most common methods used to measure risk, problematic gambling include DSM criteria

Several methods were utilized to measure risk and problematic gambling. The most common methods used include DSM criteria, the Canadian Problem Gambling Index, and South Oaks Gambling Screen.

Moreover, the study estimated that 46.2% of adults globally engaged in gambling in the past 12 months, equating to approximately 2.3 billion adults.

Men (49.1%) had higher rates than women (37.4%). Australasia had the highest prevalence (70%), while Latin America had the lowest (31.7%). Among adults, 8.7% engaged in any risk gambling. The highest rate was in North America (13.8%) as well.

Problematic gambling was estimated at 1.4%, or 71.7 million people, with the highest rates in North America (1.6%). For adolescents, 17.9% had gambled in the past 12 months. Higher rates were found in North America (33.7%) and lower in Australasia (9.4%).

North America had the highest estimates for any risk gambling (27.8%) and problematic gambling (10.4%).

Boys were more likely than girls to engage in both risk and problematic gambling. Estimates showed that 14.2% of adults who gambled engaged in risk gambling and 2.8% in problematic gambling.

Study showed that problematic gambling was more common in North America, Eastern Europe

In fact, the highest rates of risk gambling were in Eastern Europe and North America. Plus, Problematic gambling was more common in North America and Eastern Europe.

Among adolescents who gambled, risk gambling rates were higher in North America and Australasia. Though, problematic gambling was highest in Australasia.

Higher estimates of any gambling activity were associated with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA).

Additionally, the most common gambling activities among adults were lottery or raffle tickets (44.7%) and instant lottery or win games (23.9%).

Among adolescents, the highest estimates were for instant lottery or win games (13.2%) and lottery (11.0%). Online gambling increased from 5.5% before 2016 to 10.0% after 2020.

According to global gambling prevalence, the study concluded that 46.2% of adults (2.3 billion) and 17.9% of adolescents (159.6 million) gambled in the past 12 months.

As for online gambling, approximately 7.8% of adults and 10.3% of adolescents participate. An estimated 8.7% of adults engage in risk gambling. Of course, about 1.41% experience problematic gambling in online formats.