An international group of health experts has determined that existing global regulations are inadequate to shield the public from the potential harms associated with the widespread accessibility of gambling.
The surge in online betting has led to a significant expansion of the commercial gambling industry worldwide, posing serious public health risks, according to a new report.
Published on Thursday, the report originates from a public health commission on gambling convened by the medical journal The Lancet. The commission, comprised of 22 academic experts from various countries, reviewed existing studies and surveys on gambling’s prevalence, effects, and associated harms. They concluded that current regulations do not sufficiently protect the public and require strengthening on a global scale.
“We’re no longer just talking about people playing card games around a table,” said Louisa Degenhardt, the commission’s epidemiology lead and a professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. “Many individuals are likely experiencing harms from gambling — we estimate that this figure is around 72 million people globally. This number is expected to rise as commercial organizations increasingly target individuals to gamble more.”
According to the report, gambling is legal in some form in over 80% of countries worldwide. Based on their systematic review of research, the authors estimated that 16% of adults and 26% of adolescents who engage with online casino or slot products suffer from gambling disorders. Furthermore, 9% of adults and 16% of adolescents who participate in sports betting also exhibit such disorders.
In the U.S., since the Supreme Court lifted a ban on sports betting in 2018, 38 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized it, as reported by the American Gaming Association. Currently, 30 states allow and regulate mobile sports betting. A 2022 Pew Research survey indicated that 19% of U.S. adults had placed sports bets, either in person or online, in the past year.
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