Global Prevalence of Gambling Disorder

Summary

Recent meta-analyses estimate the adult prevalence of problem or pathological gambling at approximately 1.29%, with an additional 2.43% of adults classified as moderate-risk or at-risk gamblers. Online gambling, electronic gambling machines, and poker are identified as the activities with the highest odds of associated harm.

Knowledge Gaps

• Lack of longitudinal data tracking the transition between risk categories over time
• Inconsistent terminology across global studies complicating meta-analysis

Concerns

The rapid shift toward online gambling platforms may render traditional prevalence measurement tools less accurate.

Proposed Theories

• The 'Digital Accessibility Hypothesis' suggests that the shift to mobile-first gambling platforms significantly lowers the barrier to entry, thereby increasing the conversion rate from recreational to at-risk gambling.

Sources