A recent study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors provides evidence that nearly one in five people seeking help for gambling problems experiences suicidal thoughts. The research suggests that factors like overwhelming debt and a lack of social support increase this risk for both men and women. These findings highlight the severe mental health consequences of gambling addiction while pointing to a need for stronger prevention and support systems.
The researchers wanted to identify the specific mechanisms that contribute to gambling-related suicidality across different genders. Past evidence suggests that the relationship between gambling and suicidal thoughts is highly complex. It is often influenced by underlying psychological conditions, personality traits, and severe financial ruin.
By examining men and women separately, the scientists hoped to uncover unique risk factors that could improve targeted mental health treatments. Identifying these specific warning signs is a necessary step for preventing severe mental health crises in vulnerable populations. Understanding how different people experience gambling harm allows health professionals to offer better, more personalized care.
“We know that gambling can lead to suicidality. However, less research has looked at the risk factors that make some individuals who gamble more likely to have suicidal thoughts. For this study, we had an exceptionally large dataset of individuals who have problems with their gambling. This allowed us to investigate risk factors for suicidality with statistical methods and separately for men and women,” explained study author Virve Marionneau, an associate professor and director of Centre for Research on Addictions, Control and Governance at the University of Helsinki.
The scientists analyzed data from 2,800 adults who enrolled in a Finnish online help program for gambling problems between 2019 and 2024. The sample included 1,746 men and 1,054 women. These individuals were seeking assistance through an eight-week online treatment program that included self-help materials, peer support, and professional counseling.
Because the program was available online and offered a low barrier to entry, it reached a wide variety of people experiencing addiction. Upon entering the program, participants completed detailed questionnaires about their gambling habits and overall physical and mental well-being. The researchers measured suicidal ideation, which refers to having active thoughts about ending one’s own life.
They used a standard clinical depression rating scale that asked participants about their will to live over the past three days. Those who reported feeling that death was a possible way out or their only salvation were classified as experiencing suicidal thoughts. The survey also asked participants to identify which specific gambling products caused them problems over the past year.
These products included electronic gambling machines, which are similar to digital slot machines found in casinos or online. They also looked at online casino table games, sports betting, online bingo, and online poker. The researchers measured gambling-related debt by asking participants if they currently owed money due to their betting habits.
To understand other behavioral risks, the scientists assessed at-risk alcohol consumption using a standard screening tool. At-risk drinking refers to alcohol consumption habits that increase the chances of negative physical or mental health outcomes. Finally, they evaluated the presence of personal social support, meaning whether participants had reliable friends or family to turn to during stressful life events.
The analysis revealed that 19.8 percent of all respondents experienced recent suicidal thoughts. This issue was notably more common among women. The data showed that 25.5 percent of the women reported suicidal thoughts, compared to 16.4 percent of the men.
For both genders, a lack of social support emerged as the strongest predictor of suicidal ideation. People who felt they had no one to turn to during difficult times were at a much higher risk of considering suicide. This suggests that isolation plays a massive role in the psychological toll of addiction.
Having gambling-related debt also provided evidence of a heightened risk for suicidal thoughts in both men and women. The financial burden of owing large sums of money can act as a direct catalyst for severe emotional distress and hopelessness. The severity of a person’s gambling problem was another shared risk factor.
As the intensity of the gambling addiction increased, the likelihood of experiencing suicidal thoughts tended to rise as well. The researchers found a unique difference between the genders when examining alcohol consumption. At-risk alcohol use significantly increased the chances of suicidal ideation among women. For men, heavy drinking did not show a statistically significant link to suicidal thoughts in this specific context.
The study found no statistical link between specific gambling games and suicidal thoughts. “This was surprising because some prior evidence suggests that suicidality may be more common with people who gamble with fast-paced online gambling products (casino, slots),” Marionneau told PsyPost.
Nevertheless, most participants reported that fast-paced games, such as online electronic slots and online casino products, caused them the most harm. These rapid-play games allow users to place bets continuously without a break, which tends to lead to quick financial losses.
The researchers caution against misinterpreting the lack of a link between specific games and suicidal thoughts. It does not mean that fast-paced online casino games are safe to play.
“Almost 65% of our full sample reported experiencing problems due to online slots, and 48% reported experiencing problems due to online casino products,” Marionneau noted. “These fast-paced online products are causing significant harm in the full sample, not only for those who report suicidal thoughts.”
The researchers suggest that because these highly addictive games were so widely used by almost everyone in the sample, it was difficult to isolate their specific impact on suicidal thoughts.
The study also has some limitations based on its sample. Because the participants were all individuals actively seeking help, they do not perfectly represent the general population of people who gamble. People seeking treatment often experience more severe problems than those who do not seek help.
Many individuals with gambling problems never seek assistance due to feelings of shame, social stigma, or a lack of accessible services. As a result, the rates of suicidal thoughts seen in this study might be higher than what exists in the general public. Still, studying help-seekers provides a clear picture of those experiencing the most acute gambling harms.
“Next, we are planning to look at risk-factors for gambling-related suicidality in a representative population sample,” Marionneau said. “It will be important to compare findings from the population-level to these findings from a help-seeking population.”
“Our results highlight that gambling-related suicidality is a public health issue, driven by commercial and social determinants. Anyone suffering from suicidal thoughts due to gambling should know that help is available. As societies, we should also ensure that preventive measures are adequate. Improved prevention would require, among other things, stricter regulations on gambling industry practices as well as disenabling gambling with debt money.”
The study, “Gender-specific risk factors for gambling-related suicidal ideation: Evidence from a help-seeking population,” was authored by Virve Marionneau, Sara Havuaho, and Håkan Wall.
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