Professor Says Gambling Worse Than Drugs

A new study by Auckland University of Technology Professor Max Abbott claims than gambling is more harmful than drugs. Abbot is the Director of the AUT Gambling and Addictions Research Centre. The study was asked for by the New Zealand Ministry of Health and Central Queensland University also participated.

The study is just the second in the world to measure the aggregate ‘burden of harm’ attributed to wagering. It uses the standard methods endorsed by the World Health Organisation to compare gaming to other well-researched health issues.

The findings showed that gaming is associated with almost 3 times more harm than drug use. Also it said gambling has 2.5 times more harm than diabetes and 2.1 times more than osteoarthritis.

“The harm associated with (gaming) is substantially more than we originally thought,” said Abbott. “These findings are unexpected and will have a huge impact internationally.”

“While serious problem gamblers and people close to them experience the greatest harm, the study shows that many other people are harmed by gambling. In fact, low-risk gamblers are associated with the greatest proportion of New Zealand’s gambling-related harm.”

Those considered low and moderate risk gamblers accounted for 80% of total harm. Serious problem gamblers made up the other 20%.

The study said gamblers suffered in decreased health; emotional or psychological distress; financial harm; reduced performance at work or education; relationship disruption; conflict or breakdown; and criminal activity.

“It’s important to note that not all harms are equal,” Abbott said. “While serious problem gamblers and people close to them experience the greatest harm, the study shows that many other people are harmed by gambling. In fact, low-risk gamblers are associated with the greatest proportion of New Zealand’s gambling-related harm.

Abbot has written other anti-gaming papers in the past. So his latest research paper can’t be considered much of a surprise.