Gambling is as big a health risk as alcohol and tobacco, experts say

Gambling has long been regarded as addictive – with warnings on scratch-offs and lottery tickets, and support groups for those struggling to stop. And since technology entered the race, it’s only gotten worse.

Now, an international group of health experts is calling for gambling to be treated in the same ways as alcohol and tobacco .

In a report commissioned by medical journal “The Lancet,” experts said online betting has grown the gambling industry so much it’s become a public health threat .

At least one form of gambling is legal in 80% of countries worldwide. The researchers found when it comes to online casino or slot products, 16% of adults and 26% of adolescents have gambling disorders. When it comes to sports betting, they estimate 9% of adults and 16% of adolescents have such disorders.

They said about 450 million people display at least one behavioral symptom or have experienced a harmful personal, social or health consequence of gambling, and at least 80 million suffer from gambling disorder. The study’s authors also said those are conservative estimates.

In the report, the commission criticized governments worldwide for paying too little attention to the harms of gambling and not implementing sufficient gambling-related public health protections .

They recommended that, much like what is done for alcohol and cigarettes, leaders take steps to restrict gambling access and advertisements, launch marketing campaigns about the consequences of gambling and provide more support for those who suffer harm.

The authors are also calling on governments to implement and enforce minimum age requirements and betting limits.

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