Hundreds of Medical Experts Call for Action on Gambling Addiction

The rise of sports betting and online gambling has led to a notable surge in addiction rates among populations all over the globe. Now, a body of 300+ health experts has launched an evidence-based appeal to have national governments, regulators, and international bodies address what they see as a pandemic. 

Health and Addiction Experts from Across the Globe Unite to Tackle Gambling Harm

Specifically, the experts, who published a joint article in the Journal of Behavioral Addictions, outlined the issues that people face. With the proliferation of readily available gambling solutions, more people are meeting the diagnostic criteria of “gambling disorders.” The study is led by Flinders University Professor Zsolt Demetrovics, who has focused on the issues that need to be addressed specifically, and not limited to the 35 countries where the joint effort originated.

The authors also argue that addressing these issues should focus on vulnerable and minority groups, including young people. This has been borne out by evidence, which has repeatedly suggested that people in specific groups are far more likely to experience gambling-related harm, compared to peers in groups that are not considered disadvantaged.

Professor Demetrovics noted: “Gambling is a growing public health concern, yet there is no guidance available to prioritize research focuses. Effective early prevention, strong evidence-based policy, and treatment of problem gambling among prevention programs are priorities of the survey.”

The authors also believe that there could be a universally applicable approach to creating a robust gaming-related harm prevention system, which also factors in treatment programs that are tailored to specific geographies and groups of people.

More Evidence Needed to Set Priorities, Start Tackling Issues

The authors are only getting started, too, as they are currently in the process of identifying the core priorities for pushing forward with their work. Importantly, the team wants to lean on an evidence-backed approach to inform all of its decisions moving forward, and create an impactful framework allowing it to address the issues that may arise looking forward. 

However, Professor Demetrovics is also realistic about the difficulties that lie ahead.

“With a limit to financial and human capacities for gambling research, it is important to focus on the most pressing questions and establish priorities to properly inform stakeholders in gambling-related domains, including research communities, policymakers, and funding organizations,” he concluded.