High Stakes: A Mental Health Perspective on Gambling in Canada

View the Quantitative Report
View the Infographic
View the Qualitative Report

This series, in consultation with Greo Evidence Insights, explores the relationship between gambling and mental health indicators in Canada.

MHRC’s latest data reveals gambling has been associated with negative mental health outcomes, particularly among individuals who experience problem gambling. For them, gambling can contribute to significant financial strain, social isolation, psychological distress, and in some cases, suicidal ideation.

By understanding the mental health impacts of gambling, we can inform policy decisions, reduce harm, and support population well-being.

Key findings include:

  • 73.1% of adult Canadians reported participating in some form of gambling.

  • According to the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), 9.1% were classified as people with problem gambling, concentrated among young men and those who participate in online gambling.

  • People with problem gambling were 4 times more likely to indicate symptoms of anxiety and depression according to the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 compared to those who gamble but were not at risk.

  • Those with problem gambling were 4 times more likely to thought about suicide and 7 times more likely to have planned a suicide in the last 12 months.

About the reports

Quantitative: This information represents 8,890 Canadians 18 and older who answered questions about their mental health in MHRC’s Canada-wide survey between October 2024 - January 2025.

Qualitative: This study draws on 51 in-depth qualitative interviews with Canadian residents conducted between December 2024 and March 2025. Participants were selected based on self-reported impacts of gambling in a prior MHRC national survey. Only individuals who met the criteria to moderate-high risk gambling or problem gambling according to the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI; Wynne & Ferris, 2001) were invited to participate.

We thank Greo Evidence Insights (Greo) for their partnership and support in developing the questions about gambling for this report.