Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Sep;39(3):1027-1057.
doi: 10.1007/s10899-022-10180-0. Epub 2022 Dec 31.

Prevalence of Problem Gambling: A Meta-analysis of Recent Empirical Research (2016-2022)

Eliana Gabellini  1 , Fabio Lucchini  2 , Maria Elena Gattoni  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prevalence of Problem Gambling: A Meta-analysis of Recent Empirical Research (2016-2022)

Eliana Gabellini et al. J Gambl Stud. 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Gambling is widely considered a socially acceptable form of recreation. However, for a small minority of individuals, it can become both addictive and problematic with severe adverse consequences. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to provide an overview of prevalence studies published between 2016 and the first quarter of 2022 and an updated estimate of problem gambling in the general adult population. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were carried out using academic databases, Internet, and governmental websites. Following this search and utilizing exclusion criteria, 23 studies on adult gambling prevalence were identified, distinguishing between moderate risk/at risk gambling and problem/pathological gambling. This study found a prevalence of moderate risk/at risk gambling to be 2.43% and of problem/pathological gambling to be 1.29% in the adult population. As difficult as it may be to compare studies due to different methodological procedures, cutoffs, and time frames, the present meta-analysis highlights the variations of prevalence across different countries, giving due consideration to the differences between levels of risk and severity. This work intends to provide a starting point for policymakers and academics to fill the gaps on gambling research-more specifically in some countries where the lack of research in this field is evident-and to study the effectiveness of policies implemented to mitigate gambling harm.

Keywords: Gambling; Meta-analysis; Prevalence; Problem gambling; Review.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Allami, Y., Hodgins, D. C., Young, M., Brunelle, N., Currie, S., Dufour, M., Flores-Pajot, M., & Nadeau, L. (2021). A meta-analysis of problem gambling risk factors in the general adult population. Addiction, 116(11), 2968–2977. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15449 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. American Psychiatric Association (APA) (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, DC.
    1. Assanangkornchai, S., McNeil, E. B., Tantirangsee, N., Kittirattanapaiboon, P., Thai National Mental Health Survey Team. (2016). Gambling disorders, gambling type preferences, and psychiatric comorbidity among the Thai general population: Results of the 2013 National Mental Health Survey. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(3), 410–418. https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.5.2016.066 - DOI - PubMed - PMC
    1. Balduzzi, S., Rücker, G., & Schwarzer, G. (2019). How to perform a meta-analysis with R: A practical tutorial. Evidence-Based Mental Health, 22, 153–160. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Barbaranelli, C., Vecchione, M., Fida, R., & Podio-Guidugli, S. (2013). Estimating the prevalence of adult problem gambling in Italy with SOGS and PGSI. Journal of Gambling Issues, 28, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.4309/jgi.2013.28.3 - DOI

LinkOut - more resources