Legal gambling reduces the spread of gambling addiction

Populists often draw parallels between the growth of the gambling industry and the increasing prevalence of gambling addiction. Their preferred argument is that legalising gambling leads to a rise in the number of players and, consequently, an increase in gambling addiction. In reality, this claim is a clear manipulation of facts. While it is true that gambling is associated with addiction among certain categories of players, research shows that it is illegal gambling venues and platforms—not licensed operators—that contribute most significantly to the spread of this addiction. Licensed operators are subject to regulatory oversight and are therefore incentivised to promote more balanced and less risky gambling behaviours.

The idea that legal gambling can actually curb the spread of gambling addiction is supported by evidence from jurisdictions where gambling has been legal for decades. For example, the gambling market in the United States has operated legally since 1931. It was then that the first land-based casinos appeared in Nevada. Today, the legal gambling market in the US is worth hundreds of billions of dollars and continues to grow rapidly, especially in the online segment.

According to the logic of critics of the legal market, the number of gambling addicts should increase exponentially. But no, this is not happening. Research by the University of Buffalo shows that the number of people with gambling addiction symptoms in the US continues to decline. Scientists explain this by the fact that legal gambling allows implementing control systems, player protection, and responsible gambling. Players are informed about the risks, deposit limits are imposed, self-exclusion from the game is facilitated through legal mechanisms, age verification is thoroughly carried out, etc. This reduces the likelihood of becoming addicted, especially among players who are just starting out.

At the same time, research shows that individuals who are already affected by gambling addiction do tend to play more frequently and exhibit riskier behaviour. However, when these individuals engage with legal gambling platforms, it becomes easier to identify problematic patterns and offer support. In contrast, this is virtually impossible in the illegal gambling sector, where there is no oversight or sense of social responsibility. For illegal operators, players are not valued customers seeking entertainment, but merely sources of profit.

We have repeatedly noted the lack of impact of gambling legalisation on the spread of gambling addiction in the research conducted by the Ukrainian Gambling Council. The example of the United States is another convincing proof that legal gambling can benefit not only the economy and the state budget, but also society by creating a safe and responsible space for players.

Undoubtedly, it is a positive fact that even despite the full-scale war, Ukraine is also moving in this direction and continues to create such a space within the legal gambling market. Last year, the Ministry of Health approved a new clinical protocol for medical care called Gambling Addiction. The document was developed based on the Australian clinical guideline Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre (2011) National guidelines for screening, assessment and treatment in problem gambling.

This guideline was selected as an example of best practice in delivering medical care to individuals with gambling addiction. It is grounded in evidence-based medicine and reflects the proven effectiveness and safety of medical interventions, psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and organisational approaches to treatment.

Importantly, the development of such a document became possible only after the gambling market was legalised, enabling the state to assume a regulatory role—particularly in safeguarding the rights and interests of players. Legalisation laid the foundation for building further regulatory frameworks that balance the interests of business, government, and players alike. This protocol is part of a broader effort to cultivate a Ukrainian culture of responsible gambling, where the industry operates transparently and players are afforded meaningful protection.