By the Numbers: 13 January 2025
80 Million
The number of adults worldwide who "experience gambling disorder or problematic gambling," according to a systematic review and meta-analysis in The Lancet Public Health -- The Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling.
The global gambling industry is rapidly expanding, with net losses by consumers projected to reach nearly US$700 billion by 2028. Industry growth is fuelled by the rise of online gambling, widespread accessibility of gambling opportunities through mobile phones, increased legalisation, and the introduction of commercial gambling to new areas. Recent expansion is most notable in low-income and middle-income countries, where regulatory infrastructure is often weak. Gambling, in some form at least, is now legally permitted in more than 80% of countries worldwide. Online gambling, given its borderless accessibility, is available everywhere via the internet.
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Approximately 5·5% of women and 11·9% of men experience any risk gambling. Extrapolating these findings globally would suggest that approximately 448·7 million adults worldwide could be similarly affected. Of these, an estimated 80 million adults experience gambling disorder or problematic gambling.
Moreover, we estimate that gambling disorder could affect 15·8% of the adults and 26·4% of the adolescents who gamble using online casino or slot products, and 8·9% of the adults and 16·3% of the adolescents who gamble using sports betting products.
80 Million
The number of adults worldwide who "experience gambling disorder or problematic gambling," according to a systematic review and meta-analysis in The Lancet Public Health -- The Lancet Public Health Commission on gambling.
The global gambling industry is rapidly expanding, with net losses by consumers projected to reach nearly US$700 billion by 2028. Industry growth is fuelled by the rise of online gambling, widespread accessibility of gambling opportunities through mobile phones, increased legalisation, and the introduction of commercial gambling to new areas. Recent expansion is most notable in low-income and middle-income countries, where regulatory infrastructure is often weak. Gambling, in some form at least, is now legally permitted in more than 80% of countries worldwide. Online gambling, given its borderless accessibility, is available everywhere via the internet.
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Approximately 5·5% of women and 11·9% of men experience any risk gambling. Extrapolating these findings globally would suggest that approximately 448·7 million adults worldwide could be similarly affected. Of these, an estimated 80 million adults experience gambling disorder or problematic gambling.
Moreover, we estimate that gambling disorder could affect 15·8% of the adults and 26·4% of the adolescents who gamble using online casino or slot products, and 8·9% of the adults and 16·3% of the adolescents who gamble using sports betting products.