Strong link between high-engagement gambling and suicidality

The link between high engagement in gambling and suicidality is stronger than previously thought, according to a new study from the University of Glasgow and City St George’s, University of London.

The study analysed data from regular sports bettors, interviewing them at two time points. This included sports bettors who also bet frequently on other gambling products. The researchers found that:

• 5.6% of regular sports bettors also engaged heavily in online casino games, slots, and land-based slot machines.
• This group of people who were highly engaged in different types of online and in-person gambling faced particularly high suicide risks: 35.4% had suicidal thoughts and 27.8% made a suicide attempt in the three months after they reported gambling.

Gambling is widely recognised as a risk factor for suicidality, yet research into how different types of gambling contribute to this has been limited. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions and greater awareness of the heightened risks among people who engage regularly in a wide range of gambling types. However, while suicide risk was greatest among the most highly engaged gamblers, other patterns of gambling were also associated with a high risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts - highlighting the importance of wider public health responses.

Gambling harms expert Professor Heather Wardle, who led the study, said: “Whilst regular gambling is generally associated with increased risk of harms, our research shows that the risk of suicidal thoughts is not the same for all people. For those who gamble regularly across multiple products - including slot machines - the risk is significantly higher. Gambling companies often encourage customers to try more types of gambling, but this practice could significantly increase the risk of suicidal ideation among some individuals.”

The authors include Professor Sally McManus, Professor of Social Epidemiology at City St George’s, who said: “Our results support the focus in England’s National Suicide Prevention Strategy on supporting people experiencing gambling-related harms. The findings suggest that health and other professionals ask people who gamble whether they do so online or in-person and if they use particular products, such as electronic gambling machines, to identify those in greatest need of support. Although many profiles of gambling activity present suicide risk, some types present greater risk.”

Professor McManus stressed that while the results identify certain forms of gambling as being associated with particularly high risks, other forms of gambling also warrant concern and intervention. In addition, targeted support is needed alongside public health approaches.

Professor Rory O’Connor, who leads the internationally renowned University of Glasgow-based Suicidal Behaviour Research Laboratory, also contributed to this research. “Our study provides the strongest longitudinal evidence to date that certain patterns of gambling, particularly heavy engagement across online and land-based products, carry a much higher risk of suicidal ideation,” he commented. “The findings have major implications for clinicians, regulators and suicide prevention efforts, because they suggest that targeted questions about gambling formats could help save lives.”

Read the full paper

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