gambling

Using Ireland as a case study, a new article published in the *Journal of Behavioral Addictions* has analyzed gambling advertisements, taking into account segmentation by gender and age group, as well as the actual reach of the ads. The team included 411 ads from 88 operators that ran between January and February 2025. The data was extracted from the Meta Ad Library, a database of advertising on Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. The total number of ads reached 2.3 times more men than women, and the most exposed age group was 25 to 34 years old. Twenty-two percent of the ads targeted men exclusively; none were aimed solely at women. 

A longitudinal study published in the journal International Gambling Studies states that boys and girls who play videogames with gambling-like elements, such as tool boxes, are more likely to gamble with real money in the future. The lead researcher warns that, to protect minors, regulation should go ‘beyond loot boxes, including a variety of gambling-like elements, such as social casino games, prize wheels, and gambling videos.’

According to a Lancet Public Health commission on commercial gambling, stricter regulations are needed on a global scale to reduce its impact on health and wellbeing worldwide. The authors argue that the harms caused by gambling are a threat to public health, exacerbated by the rapid expansion and digital transformation of the industry. These harms include physical and mental health problems, increased risk of suicide, gender-based violence and financial problems.