The Growing Gambling Epidemic: A Call for Action
Introduction: The Digital Dilemma
The digital revolution has transformed many aspects of our lives, but it has also birthed unforeseen and damaging consequences, particularly within the realm of gambling. The gambling industry’s expansion is not merely a local phenomenon; it is a global issue fueled by a network of powerful stakeholders, including software developers, financial service providers, social media platforms, and professional sports organizations. As this industry blossoms, governments and regulators lag behind, caught in a web of misleading narratives and deep-rooted connections with the industry they are tasked with overseeing. The result? A failure to safeguard public health in the face of a rapidly expanding and increasingly influential gambling landscape.
The Lancet Commission: A Global Perspective
These urgent concerns are detailed in the newly released Lancet Public Health Commission on Gambling, which presents a stark revelation: the harms linked to gambling extend far beyond individual financial losses, affecting millions worldwide. With approximately 80 million individuals grappling with gambling disorders and an estimated 450 million experiencing varying degrees of gambling-related harm, the commission underscores the magnitude of the crisis. Alarmingly, the data shows that approximately 15.8% of adults and 26.4% of adolescents engaging in online gambling face gambling disorders.
The Commission advocates for immediate "decisive action" from governments globally—calling for regulatory frameworks that prioritize public health over economic incentives. In their view, the urgency of this situation cannot be overstated, particularly as gambling becomes more accessible through digital means.
Gambling in Australia: A Case in Point
Australia serves as a troubling microcosm of the gambling epidemic, holding the dubious title of the country with the highest per capita gambling losses in the world. With A$32 billion lost to various forms of gambling in 2022-23 alone—amounting to an average loss of A$1,555 per adult—the social repercussions are profound. The effects ripple through families and communities, manifesting as domestic violence, relationship breakdowns, and mental health challenges.
In light of these alarming statistics, the Commission’s revelations resonate deeply within Australia, amplifying calls for stronger regulation and protective measures particularly targeting vulnerable populations, such as adolescents exposed to gambling promotions. The ease of access to online gambling products—intensified by aggressive marketing strategies—creates a fertile ground for developing gambling issues. This underscores an urgent need for policy interventions, particularly concerning advertisements aimed at children and young adults.
The Corporate Ecosystem: Influencing the Narrative
The complex interplay between the gambling industry and various stakeholders complicates efforts to regulate gambling effectively. The “corporate playbook” utilized by many within this ecosystem mirrors tactics historically employed by the tobacco industry: lobbying, funding favorable research, and perpetuating narratives of individual responsibility while deflecting attention from the addictive nature of gambling products.
This strategic lobbying creates a challenging environment for any reforms that might jeopardize the billion-dollar interests within the gambling industry. As stakeholders—including sports organizations and media outlets—collude to protect their financial interests, public health narratives become skewed, leaving individuals to navigate a landscape designed for maximum profit, often at their expense.
Steps Toward Global Action
The commission emphasizes a need for a global regulatory approach to online gambling, urging countries to work together to mitigate the harms associated with gambling. Recommendations include a shift toward prioritizing public health in gambling policies, banning detrimental advertising practices, and de-normalizing gambling similar to successful anti-smoking campaigns.
Moreover, technological innovations such as pre-commitment systems and cardless gambling options are suggested as effective tools to empower individuals to monitor and control their gambling behavior. These technologies can be leveraged to foster healthier gambling practices and provide critical safeguards.
Australia’s Political Landscape: An Impasse
While the Australian Government has been under pressure to act, the pace of change remains frustratingly slow. A comprehensive parliamentary inquiry into online gambling has produced a set of 31 recommendations aimed at addressing the crisis; yet, implementation has stalled. Among these proposals is a call for a national regulator for online gambling and a complete ban on gambling advertisements—a necessary step towards safeguarding future generations.
Given the reports from The Lancet’s commission, the conclusions drawn by Australia’s parliamentary inquiry are only strengthened. It presents an opportune moment to enact transformative change, putting youth protection at the forefront of gambling policy.
Conclusion: The Time for Action
The time to act is now. With the potential for gambling revenue to soar to US$1 trillion by 2030, the window to implement effective regulations is narrowing. Protecting the health and wellbeing of the population, especially our children, must take precedence over corporate interests.
Failure to enact these changes could land us in a future situation where the repercussions of gambling are even more devastating. Not only must we look inward at the state of gambling in Australia, but we must also engage in a broader global conversation about the need for collaborative and comprehensive action to effectively combat the gambling epidemic.
As experts and policy-makers gather to address this pressing issue, we must not lose sight of the human cost—families, children, and communities affected by the relentless grip of gambling. Now more than ever, the challenge lies in steering the momentum towards meaningful reform that actively prioritizes public health above profit.
1
20
20
