Sports engagement as a gateway activity to gambling activity: a systematic review and intersectional analysis of the compound vulnerabilities to gambling harm.

The Public Health England (PHE, 2021) evidence review redefined gambling-related harms as existing on a continuum, shifting the focus from individual pathology to a broader socio-demographic framework that incorporates affected others and those at risk. Findings from this report indicate that gambling harm is distributed along a socio-demographic gradient, moderated by factors such as age, gender, education, and employment status. Furthermore, the report identifies mental health and substance use as significant co-morbidities that exacerbate these risks.

Central to the PHE findings is the role of peer influence and the normalization of gambling within social networks. This socialization creates a potential pathway to gambling, particularly within the context of sports engagement among young adults. In the United Kingdom, the 16–34 age group exhibits the highest levels of sports participation, creating a setting where peer influence is exceptionally potent. Consequently, this demographic faces "compounded vulnerability" because the intersection of sports culture and social grouping occurs at the developmental stage when gambling engagement is most likely to predict future harm.

However, the complexity of this population suggests that traditional risk assessments may be insufficient. Sports-engaged young adults often diverge from the general population regarding risk characteristics; for example, athletes may exhibit higher levels of impulsivity, and the gender gap in gambling involvement often narrows in sporting environments. Additionally, this group faces intense exposure to the integration of gambling within the wider marketing and sports entertainment ecosystem.

By adopting an intersectional analysis, this review aims to understand how demographic, psychosocial, and environmental factors intersect to create unique profiles of vulnerability. The objective is to evaluate how these compounding factors contribute to gambling harm among sports-engaged individuals to better inform targeted public health interventions.

Funder: UKRI/AHRC