This report examines the relationship between mental and physical health and gambling. The report focuses on adults aged 16 years and older in England and Scotland. The report specifically looked at two groups of people:
- Adults with different levels of problem gambling.
- Gamblers who use a variety of gambling types in different locations.
Samples were taken from the 2012, 2015, and 2016 Gambling in England and Scotland: Combined data from the Health Survey for England and the Scottish Health Survey datasets.
The authors found links between mental health and problem gambling, especially for men. The relationship between physical health and problem gambling was less clear. However, physical health conditions were linked with gambling in different locations. For example, gamblers with diabetes were more likely to gamble in both online and land-based gambling venues rather than only in land-based venues. Smoking and drinking were also linked with problem gambling.
The results suggest that health-related indicators, such as mental health and smoking and alcohol use, may be useful for detecting problem gambling. The authors recommend considering gambling as a high-risk behaviour that can adversely affect health.
