The gambling addiction global impact Understanding the crisis transforming lives worldwide
Statistics on gambling participation Annual report Year 2 2024: Official statistics
The industry is expected to $754.78 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.1%. Shayne Rodgers has not gambled for more than a decade, but he said he now worries about his son’s exposure to gambling. “So it starts turning into a behavioural addiction paradigm, or a genuine way to make money.” Not only has technology made gambling more accessible, but it’s also made gambling more addictive.
While effectiveness rates of 40% are modest, their high accessibility scores of 9 out of 10 make these programmes valuable for individuals who cannot access professional treatment. Every month, 150,000 people search for addiction or mental health treatment on Recovery.com. Many gambling addicts also suffer from co-occurring issues like substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders, which can worsen their impulsivity while gambling. Gambling addiction affects people of all ages, but some age groups may be more likely to develop serious gambling issues. Current research shows that people in their early 20s are the fastest-growing group of gamblers.
Global Gambling Statistics & Trends 2025
By understanding these variations, you better comprehend how societal factors influence gambling addiction worldwide. For those affected by gambling problems, help is available through numerous professional services, support groups, and online resources. Early intervention significantly improves treatment outcomes, making it crucial for individuals experiencing gambling-related difficulties to seek assistance promptly mobile real-time entertainment destination through established helplines and treatment services. “Gambling addiction doesn’t just empty your pockets; it empties your soul and shatters the trust of everyone around you,” shared John Smith, a recovering gambling addict and advocate for awareness, in a recent interview.
While there are no medications approved for gambling addiction, many addicts have co-occurring mental health challenges that may be improved through certain drugs. Many gambling addicts will go into serious debt throughout the course of their addiction. Sadly, gambling addicts are 15 times more likely to commit suicide due to the consequences of their gambling addiction.
Understanding gambling addiction: A complex behavioural disorder
- This concentration among heavy users mirrors patterns seen in problem gambling populations.
- Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder.
- Online gambling markets are projected to reach $700 billion by 2028, driven primarily by smartphone adoption in low- and middle-income countries.
- These apps track your play patterns and learn the best time to prompt you to play more.
- For example, a 2022 bill was introduced to require consumers to “opt-in” to receiving gambling advertisements rather than having these sorts of marketing materials just… showing up.
Although most people think of casino games such as slot machines and poker tables, there are several different types of gambling activities, like sports gambling, online gambling, lotteries, and horse betting. While we’re waiting for updated casino statistics on 2023’s Q4 revenue, we can look to 2022 to see that American players heavily favor slot machines. Over $34 billion of the $60.42 billion in gross gaming revenue consists of video slot games, while $10 billion was generated at the tables, and $7.5 billion for sports betting nationally. WHO is coordinating a group of global experts to build capacity to address public health implications of gambling. Initial efforts include leading the development of new diagnostic instruments for gambling disorder to better reflect populations outside North America and facilitating an expert consensus on diagnostic boundaries.
mpact and Consequences
The financial consequences of gambling represent the most immediately visible harm, often serving as the first indicator of developing problems. Problem gamblers typically experience a progression of financial difficulties, beginning with using savings and escalating to borrowing money from multiple sources. Research indicates that 90% of problem gamblers withdraw cash advances from credit cards to fund gambling activities. Young or emerging adults, specifically those between 18 and 24, face the highest risk for developing gambling disorders.
Despite Nevada having the most casinos (thanks to Las Vegas), the state does not have the highest rates of gambling addiction. That unfortunate honor goes to Oklahoma, with 6.2% of its population having a gambling addiction. While individuals of any ethnic background may develop a gambling addiction, there is evidence that ethnic minorities may be at greater risk of developing gambling issues. Despite the serious consequences gambling has on addicts, the gross gaming revenue of the gambling industry in the U.S. reached nearly 53 billion dollars in 2021 and grows more every year, according to Statista.
Dr. Hoffman is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of AddictionHelp.com and ensures the website’s medical content and messaging quality. We can’t wait to see how the industry evolves as new legislation is put forth, new technologies are developed, and new players sign on. New technologies are emerging all the time, and any establishment looking to stay competitive is bound to find some way to integrate them to gain an edge. For example, a 2022 bill was introduced to require consumers to “opt-in” to receiving gambling advertisements rather than having these sorts of marketing materials just… showing up. Whether or not these steps are working remains to be seen, as there is a projected 2.53% growth over the next few years. While most states featured significant increases in revenue — particularly Nebraska, which saw a 722.3% increase over the year before — other states saw a small dip when compared to the year before.
Aggressive marketing campaigns that normalise gambling behaviour and target vulnerable populations further contribute to the problem. States with high concentrations of casinos or legalized online gambling—like Nevada, South Dakota, and Montana—tend to report more gambling-related problems. WalletHub’s 2025 report ranks these states among the most gambling-addicted in the U.S.11 Regional differences often reflect the types of gambling available and regulatory approaches taken by state governments. And while event (sports) betting and casino gambling (particularly slots) were still popular, they were easily overshadowed by online casino games and remote sports betting. £6.4 of the total £14.1 GGY were made up of online gaming options in 2022, with 32.65 million Brits signing up to play online slots, table games, and partake in the online sports betting market between April 2021 and March 2022. In exploring this topic, you’ll uncover surprising statistics and insights into how different countries handle gambling addiction.
There is a partial overlap in diagnostic criteria between problem gambling and substance use disorders; pathological gamblers are also likely to have a substance use disorder. The “telescoping phenomenon” reflects the rapid development from initial to problematic behavior in women compared with men. This phenomenon was initially described for alcoholism, but it has also been applied to pathological gambling. The study links problem gambling to a myriad of issues affecting relationships, and social stability. Healthcare systems bear the financial burden of treating addiction and related mental health disorders. Workplaces experience decreased productivity and increased absenteeism due to employees’ gambling issues.
The gambling addiction global impact extends far beyond individual suffering, creating ripple effects that challenge healthcare systems, destabilise families, and burden economies with costs exceeding $270 billion annually. Comprehensive support programs play a vital role in assisting individuals with gambling addiction. Cognitive-behavioral therapy emerges as a proven method, helping individuals change destructive gambling habits.
Research indicates that current self-exclusion regulations are often insufficient in most participating jurisdictions, with high breach rates undermining programme effectiveness. Lost productivity accounts for $3.2 billion in annual costs, affecting 22 million individuals whose work performance deteriorates due to gambling problems. Crime-related costs add another $1.8 billion annually, reflecting increased theft, fraud, and embezzlement committed to fund gambling activities.