It almost seems as if it was a globally coordinated effort among NATO members. Sure, the UK was well ahead of the game when they fully regulated online gambling via the enactment of the Gambling Act of 2005. Their trailblazing effort was soon followed by Italy with the Abruzzo Decree of 2009 and France’s French Gambling Act of 2010. But other adopters moved their players onto the board in the last cluster of years. Portugal went all in in 2015 and the United States paved the way for the Union’s states to legalize online sports betting in 2018 (view map) as did Sweden in 2019. Since then, Germany, Netherlands, and Canada collectively fell in line in 2021. These are all on top of gambling act amendments in a number of other NATO countries which broadened market access to what citizens can wager on. For instance, Denmark’s gambling habit has grown very significantly since the 2018 amendment to the Danish Gambling Act which added horse, dog, pigeon (yes, pigeon) racing betting as well as online bingo to the mix.
Consequently, regulators in addition to public health officials and citizens within each respective country have been monitoring the meteoric rise of problem gambling among their populations. The “epidemic” for each has persisted in a geographic bubble, with every one expected to manage the crisis on their own. These bubbles may have popped now that United Nations agency – the World Health Organization (WHO) – has taken notice and decided to weigh in.
Charged with the connecting nations, partners and populations to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable, WHO has come out swinging against the rising crisis. On December 2, 2024, the agency released a comprehensive report on problem gambling that has put stakeholders on high-alert. The WHO gambling report (view here) features key facts, statistics, and statements regarding what is now considered to be a global health concern. As America’s foremost provider of problem gambling support services, Kindbridge Behavioral Health has highlighted important disclosures that deserve further clarity for the benefit of vulnerable U.S. citizens and their loved ones. Further, we conclude with a call-to-action for operators who need to take a more invested role in the provision of protections for their vulnerable player populations.
What the New World Health Organization Report on the Global Gambling Crisis Means for Americans in 2025 and Beyond
WHO Gambling Key Findings and Statements
As indicated, Kindbridge has extracted facts, stats, and statements from the recent WHO gambling report. We have done so in order to make it more relevant to our U.S. population, and to provide links to resources that we have created over the years to assist anyone who may be struggling with problem gambling:
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“Estimates suggest that 1.2% of the world’s adult population has a gambling disorder […] Around 5.5% of women and 11.9% of men globally experience some level of harm from gambling.“
In America, problem gambling impacts on-average 2% of the population, compared to the global 1.2%. However, as noted by the WHO, one needn’t suffer from gambling disorder to experience harms associated with habitual involvement. Further, the rate grows significantly within certain population segments such as with members of the U.S. Armed Forces (3.5 times higher rate) and elite athletes along with those who are psychologically vulnerable, those with genetic predispositions, and young adult makes who are more likely to succumb to peer pressure.
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“People gambling at harmful levels generate around 60% of losses (gambling revenue).”
In our recent feature regarding America’s Gambling Debt Epidemic we reported on statistics that align with WHO findings. For example, 1 in 5 American male sports bettors allot 25% of their paycheck to gambling, with an equal proportion being in debt from the activity. Further, the average problem gambler debt load (American men) is between $55,000 and $90,000.
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“Gambling harms also include relationship breakdown, family violence, financial distress, stigma, income-generating crimes (theft, fraud), neglect of children, and erosion of civil institutions via corruption and corporate political activity. Gambling is also a common way to launder money obtained through illegal activities.”
The dangers of sports betting and compulsive gambling cannot be reiterated enough. If Americans become more aware of the harms, a notable number of potential gamblers may choose to abstain or at least be more mindful of their behaviors as an active participant. Monitor for signs and symptoms by frequently referencing this resource.
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“Gambling can threaten health, leading to increased incidence of mental illness and suicide […] A Swedish study estimated that those with a gambling disorder were 15 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.“
Given the mortal consequence, it’s extremely important to single out cooccurring mental health issues along with suicide and suicidal ideation as known harms of problem gambling. Members of the military and veterans (who are innately more vulnerable) need to particularly cautious and seek counsel for the mental health when involved in gambling.
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“The rapid normalization of gambling is occurring through commercialization and digitization. Sponsorship and marketing are also key factors in rapid global growth.”
As an early adopter of online gambling, the UK has lead the NATO pack by chronological necessity in curbing commercialization of gambling. They were the first to ban the use of celebrities in sports betting advertising, which was an initiative that was followed by their modern Commonwealth in Canada (Ontario, in particular) in early 2024. To fight the rapid normalization of gambling and subsequent harms of it going mainstream, federal and state level mandates need to be considered in the United States. Until this occurs, vulnerable individual citizens can take steps by immediately blocking gambling influencers from their digital periphery and avoid all triggers that come with social media usage.
What WHO Gambling Focus Means for Operators
“Industry self-regulation is a common feature of gambling regulation. However, there are many examples of the failure of this approach. There is often little transparency about the way many gambling products function. EGMs can mislead users with design features that encourage extended use. Existing health promotion messages are often inadequate and can use so-called dark nudges, which encourage the consumption of harmful products (for example, by exploiting gamblers’ cognitive biases) and may enhance normalization. Alongside strong regulation of gambling products and their availability, clear warning messages about harms associated with use are likely to be more effective than messages suggestions to simply stop when gambling is no longer fun, for instance.”
What does the World Health Organization’s new focus on problem gambling mean for operators in the USA? Nothing, yet. But the wolves are at the door, and American operators need to get ahead of the crackdown coming from state and federal regulators in response to the WHO’s call to arms. Doing so is not only the right thing to do from a public health perspective, it will help responsible parties gain a competitive advantage. At press, lawsuits are being levied against a number of operators regarding breaches of consumer protections and public trust, with experts suggesting that more are sure to follow. Operators who are not prepared by being able to show that they have been proactive in their efforts to identify and support players who have a problematic relationship with gambling will be more vulnerable to punitive measures. Even if claims are unfounded, legal expenses and public relations backlash can collectively shutter operations. Ultimately, only the select few who prove their commitment via investment in problem player identification and subsequent mental health support will survive the forthcoming cleansing.
Make Problem Gambling Support a Part of Your Responsible Gambling Strategy
(Operators / Regulators)
What Problem Gamblers Can Do to Get Help
“Currently, the most effective are long-term cognitive behavioral therapy or motivational interviewing.” (World Health Organization, December 2, 2024)
Are you part of the millions (upon millions) of Americans who struggle with casino gaming and/or sports betting? You needn’t wait for operators, or even your state’s public health providers, to access effective support services. Kindbridge care coordinators are on-standby to provide an assessment and place you on the path to wellness. Kindbridge problem gambling counselors specialize in the application of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other interventions in the treatment of problem gambling and cooccurring mental/behavioral health issues. View our most recent treatment outcomes report to validate the effectiveness of our strategy. Click, call, or email to get started.
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