Abstract
Background and aims: Since 2012, gambling has been monitored in the Czech Republic via population surveys, and additional results have been collected through qualitative research. The aim of this study was to present information about gambling and gambling-related social and economic consequences, which is described in the Annual Report on Gambling in the Czech Republic in 2014.
Methods: Several general population surveys which measured various health aspects of the Czech population have been carried out since 2012. They contained questions about the prevalence of gambling, risky gambling behavior, and experience with different types of gambling opportunities.
Results: In 2014, about one third of adult population gambled in the past 12 months, mostly lotteries and scratch cards. Excluding these types of games, up to 19% gambled in the past 12 months and 8% in the past 30 days.
Up to 13% of the population gambled online in the past 12 months and up to 5% in the past 30 days. Up to 440 thousand people are in risk of developing a gambling disorder, of which up to 150 thousand are in high risk.
Discussion: Electronic gaming machines bear the highest risk of developing problems for the gambler, followed by online gambling and betting. Gamblers suffer from heavy indebtedness, mental health problems and loss of social relationships.
Conclusions: The prevalence of gambling has been rising, especially within the youngest age groups and in online gambling. This calls for more intervention and accessibility of treatment for gamblers.