Gambling

Introduction: Problematic and pathological gambling (PG) lead to major adverse consequences for individuals, their families, and society and is highly comorbid with numerous other mental health disorders.Methods: This narrative review summarized population-based, cross-sectional, treatment and prospective studies on gambling disorder and comorbidity over the past 14 years.Results: These studies show a high rate of comorbidity of PG and substance and alcohol use disorders, mood and anxiety disorders. Prospective studies indicate that, in some cases, gambling precedes the onset of the comorbid disorder, while in other instances, the temporal relationship is reversed. Women face greater psychiatric comorbidity and are more likely to have mood disorders, suicidality, mania, anxiety and alcohol dependence. Treatment of PG can be effective by improving the gambling and depressive symptoms of PG.Conclusions: Over the past 15 years, significant progress has been made in understanding and treating GD and its psychiatric comorbidities, with evidence highlighting the reciprocal relationships between GD and conditions like substance use, mood and anxiety disorders.

Background and aimsGambling is a public health issue and widespread advertising of gambling products may contribute to gambling harms. Sports-related gambling advertising includes advertising around sports games or for sports betting products. This review aimed to provide the most systematic and up-to-date review of the literature on the association between sports-related gambling advertising and gambling behaviour.MethodsA systematic literature search of quantitative studies up to 13 February 2024 was undertaken following PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were quantitative studies published in the English language exploring the association between sports-related gambling advertising and gambling behaviour. Traditional database searches (Medline, Scopus, PsychInfo, Web of Science, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library) were undertaken alongside citation, author and website searches. Studies were narratively synthesised, and the overall quality of the evidence was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).ResultsTwenty-two studies were included in this review covering traditional, digital, direct, embedded, inducement and aggregate advertising. The majority (n = 16) of research was undertaken in Australia on adult populations. Results suggest that sports-related gambling advertising is associated with increases in perceived, intended and actual frequency of (n = 6 studies) and expenditure on (n = 3) gambling, unplanned or unintended gambling (n = 2), the likelihood of gambling (n = 2), the likelihood of using a sponsor's product (n = 2) and, in some cases, the complexity or riskiness of bets placed (n = 2). Studies suggest that the self-reported effect may be more pronounced in higher-risk gamblers (n = 7). Preliminary evidence suggests that specific inducements which reduce the riskiness or cost of gambling appear to be particularly influential (n = 3). Limitations of the evidence base include the lack of standardised measures and use of observational designs.ConclusionsExposure to sports-related gambling advertising appears to be associated with increased gambling behaviour for a wide range of advertising media. This association may be more pronounced in higher-risk gamblers who are already at increased risk of harm.

ObjectiveWhile gambling is a growing public health concern, research resources are limited, and no guidance is available to prioritise research. This study aimed to identify priorities for gambling research on a global scale using a systematic, transparent, and democratic methodology to inform researchers and other stakeholders.MethodsLeading gambling researchers were invited to list gambling-related research questions that can contribute to strengthening evidence-based policy, prevention, and effective early intervention and treatment of problem gambling. Suggestions were consolidated into research options and evaluated against six criteria (Answerability, Feasibility, Effectiveness, Impact on equity and an additional two based on the category of research options: Novelty and Relevance for description-type, Potential for burden reduction and Deliverability for intervention-related options). Stakeholders (n = 14) assigned relative weights to each criterion, and options were ranked according to their weighted research priority scores.ResultsWith input from 46.9% of eligible researchers (n = 307) from 35 countries, 1,361 questions were consolidated into 102 options. Evaluations showed strong agreement between experts, and the top 25 priorities were identified. The results highlight the need for further knowledge about the epidemiology, etiology, and consequences of problem gambling. Top-priority topics indicate the importance of focusing on vulnerable and minority groups, youth, significant others, technological innovations, advertisements, the convergence of gaming and gambling, and co-occurring conditions. Evaluating and tailoring existing measures were prioritised more highly than new interventions, and identifying factors underlying treatment seeking, drop-out and relapse was also considered a priority.ConclusionsThis initiative successfully involved the global research community in identifying gambling research priorities. The results provide information for researchers and other stakeholders for future projects and funding.

Background and aimsGambling disorder (GD) presents significant psychological, financial, and social consequences. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have emerged as promising adjunctive treatments. However, the evidence base remains heterogeneous. The present systematic review evaluated the current empirical literature on MBIs for GD, focusing on their efficacy, methodological quality, and limitations.MethodsScopus, PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and PsycINFO were searched for English-language studies published between 2012 and April 2025. The final sample comprised 12 studies: five randomized controlled trials, one controlled pilot study, two repeated-measures studies, one mixed-methods study, and three single-group pretest-posttest studies. A narrative synthesis evaluated MBI impacts.ResultsMBIs consistently reduced gambling frequency and cravings while enhancing psychological outcomes. Studies combining mindfulness with cognitive behavioral therapy showed significant declines in problem gambling behavior. Psychological distress and cravings also decreased notably across interventions. The mindfulness components employed varied in focus and application, adding nuance to outcome interpretation. However, it remains unclear to what extent the observed effects can be attributed to mindfulness-specific mechanisms.Discussion and conclusionsMBIs show promise as a complementary treatment for gambling disorders, although small sample sizes and methodological limitations suggest a need for more robust research.