Šimon Vincze, Head of Sustainable and Safer Gambling for Casino Guru, writes for iGaming Expert, addressing a subject that many shy away from, yet is of the utmost importance when it comes to strengthening safeguards for the industry.
I remember when I first heard that we should publish a course on suicide prevention at our Casino Guru Academy. It was at the time when GamCare ceased operations under its Safer Gambling Standards, and its educational resources became inaccessible. I was not immediately convinced by the idea, as my only experience of discussion around suicide in a gambling context had been highly negative. It took me some time to realise we’d taken the wrong end of the stick.
The topic of suicide and gambling is highly stigmatised in public discussion. It’s hardly surprising, as many such cases have made headlines. For an uninvolved person, seeing headlines like that often can create a false impression that gambling often leads to suicide. What happens here is called the availability heuristic, and it’s common around shark attacks and plane crashes, too. It’s a natural shortcut of the human brain, and it takes effort to overcome it.
Nonetheless, it would be incorrect to downplay this topic by such an analogy, as the connection between suicide and problem gambling is considerable. According to meta-analyses from 2024, which covered 107 studies, suicide ideation among people with gambling problems was almost 32%, while attempts were around 13%. These numbers are quite high for the ‘gambling problems’ definition, but, as the authors of the study add, “the magnitude of the relationship has varied significantly across studies, and the potential causal link between gambling problems and suicidality is currently unclear.”
Another study focused on diagnosed gambling disorder found that suicide was the leading cause of death (25%) among people with such a medical record. This represents roughly five times the rate in the general population.
These figures are striking; however, the same study provides further context: The observed risk is not significantly different from that of patients with anxiety and personality disorders or depression. It’s even lower compared with substance and alcohol dependence, or psychotic and mood disorders.
It’s not only problem gambling
Nonetheless, it’s clear that suicide prevention needs to be taken seriously in gambling, but there is no reason for the industry to freeze on this topic; rather, it should approach it in a meaningful discussion. Part of that discussion is the fact that a gambling disorder rarely occurs in isolation. Research is pretty clear about high rates of psychiatric comorbidity in individuals with disordered gambling. More specifically, anxiety, mood and substance use disorders are very common.
Gambling is often used as a coping mechanism for distress or trauma. Uncontrolled play can clearly worsen the situation, leading to significant losses and other associated harms. However, it also offers the opportunity to speak with someone, ideally trained to de-escalate a crisis. Furthermore, current duty-of-care requirements can detect problematic behaviour before it causes significant harm. Proper interaction from the operator might become a turning point. Sadly, the likelihood reduces dramatically if gambling occurs outside of locally licensed operators. Stigma around areas connected to gambling does not help here.
What comes first?
This article would not be complete without addressing the question: Does a gambling disorder or other psychiatric conditions come first? Longitudinal evidence indicates that the relationship between gambling disorder and common comorbidities such as depression and anxiety is bidirectional. Pre-existing mood and anxiety disorders increase the risk of later gambling problems, while gambling-related harm can independently precipitate depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Self-harm or suicide threats can appear with any operator, at any time, but that does not mean that the person who is handling it should feel the whole guilt on their shoulders. A realistic perspective on the issue helps to prepare and address it effectively. Do not avoid this topic with your colleagues; rather, focus on how to handle it. It might start with this free course at Casino Guru Academy.
