Recent research published in journals addictive behavior Evidence shows that almost one in five people who seek help for a gambling problem experience suicidal thoughts. This study suggests that factors such as overwhelming debt and lack of social support increase this risk for both men and women. These findings highlight the serious mental health consequences of gambling addiction and point to the need for stronger prevention and support systems.
The researchers wanted to identify specific mechanisms that contribute to gambling-related suicides in both genders. Past evidence suggests that the relationship between gambling and suicidal ideation is highly complex. It is often influenced by underlying psychological conditions, personality traits, and severe financial distress.
By studying 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 in preventing serious mental health crises in vulnerable populations. Understanding how different people experience gambling harm will enable health professionals to provide more appropriate and individualized care.
“We know that gambling can lead to suicide. However, little research has looked at the risk factors that make some people who gamble more likely to develop suicidal thoughts. “We had a large data set, which allowed us to use statistical methods to investigate suicide risk factors separately for men and women,” explained study author Birb Marioneau, associate professor and director of the Center for Addiction, Control and Research. Governance of the University of Helsinki.
Scientists analyzed data from 2,800 adults who enrolled in Finland’s online help program for problem gambling between 2019 and 2024. The sample included 1,746 men and 1,054 women. These people sought support through an eight-week online treatment program that included self-help materials, peer support, and professional counseling.
The program is available online and has a low barrier to entry, allowing it to reach a wide variety of people experiencing addiction. Upon entering the program, participants completed a detailed questionnaire regarding their gambling habits and overall physical and mental health. Researchers measured suicidal ideation, which refers to actively thinking about ending one’s life.
They used a standard clinical depression rating scale that asks participants about their will to survive over the past three days. Those who reported feeling that death could be a possible escape or were the only salvation were classified as experiencing suicidal ideation. The survey also asked participants to identify which gambling products had caused their problems in the past year.
These products included electronic gambling machines similar to digital slot machines found in casinos and online. We also looked at online casino table games, sports betting, online bingo, and online poker. Researchers measured gambling-related debt by asking participants whether they currently owed money due to their gambling habits.
To understand other behavioral risks, scientists used standard screening tools to assess risky alcohol intake. Risky drinking refers to drinking habits that increase the likelihood of negative effects on your physical or mental health. Finally, they assessed the presence of personal social support, that is, whether participants had trusted friends or family members they could turn to during stressful life events.
Analysis revealed that 19.8 percent of all respondents had recently experienced suicidal thoughts. This problem was especially more common among women. According to the data, 25.5 percent of women reported suicidal thoughts, compared to 16.4 percent of men.
Lack of social support emerged as the strongest predictor of suicidal ideation for both men and women. 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 major role in the psychological burden of addiction.
Having gambling-related debt also provided evidence of an increased risk of suicidal ideation in both men and women. The financial burden of heavy debt can be a direct trigger for severe emotional distress and feelings of hopelessness. The severity of a person’s gambling problem was another common risk factor.
As the intensity of gambling addiction increased, the likelihood of experiencing suicidal thoughts tended to increase as well. When researchers looked at alcohol consumption, they found unique differences between men and women. Risky alcohol consumption significantly increased the likelihood of suicidal ideation in women. For men, heavy drinking did not show a statistically significant association with suicidal ideation in this particular context.
The study found no statistical association between specific gambling games and suicidal ideation. “This was surprising because some previous evidence suggests that suicidal tendencies may be more common in people who gamble with fast-paced online gambling products (casinos, slots),” Marioneau told SciPost.
Nevertheless, most participants reported that fast-paced games such as online electronic slots and online casino products caused the most harm. These quick games allow users to bet continuously without any breaks, which tends to quickly lead to financial losses.
Researchers cautioned against misinterpreting the lack of a link between certain games and suicidal thoughts. This does not mean that fast-paced online casino games are safe to play.
“Nearly 65% of the total sample reported that the problem occurred because of online slots, and 48% reported that the problem occurred because of online casino products,” Marioneau said. “These fast-paced online products are causing significant harm to the entire sample, not just those who reported suicidal ideation.”
The researchers suggested that because these highly addictive games were widely used by nearly everyone in the sample, it was difficult to determine their specific effects on suicidal ideation.
This study also has some sample-based limitations. All participants were individuals actively seeking help and therefore may not be completely representative of the general population of people who gamble. People who seek treatment often experience more severe problems than those who do not seek help.
Many people with gambling problems never seek help due to feelings of shame, social stigma, or lack of available services. As a result, the rates of suicidal ideation seen in this study may be higher than the rates of suicidal ideation that exist in the general population. Still, research into those seeking help provides a clear picture of those most seriously affected by gambling.
“Next, we plan to examine risk factors for gambling-related suicide in a representative population sample,” Marioneau said. “It will be important to compare the results obtained at the population level with those obtained from help-seeking populations.”
“Our results highlight that gambling-related suicide is a public health problem driven by commercial and social determinants. Anyone who suffers from suicidal thoughts due to gambling should know that help is available. And as a society, we need to ensure that prevention measures are in place. Improving prevention requires, among other things, stricter regulation of gambling industry practices and disables debt gambling.”
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.
