A study estimates 4 million Mexicans gamble
The betting market in Mexico now has its first representative measurement of the scope of gambling and the prevalence of problem gambling, following the presentation of the latest data from the National Survey on Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption. According to the research, an estimated 3.97 million people between 12 and 65 years old participated in some type of gambling, and out of that universe, 249,000 people, or 6.3 percent of participants, showed clinical criteria compatible with problem gambling. This figure caught the attention of mental health experts, authorities, and industry operators.
One of the central points of the study is the high penetration of betting among adolescents, a group that shows greater participation than adults. The survey reported that 6.9 percent of people aged 12 to 17 participated in gambling during the last year, and among those who gambled, 7 percent met criteria for problem gambling, with a proportion of 9.7 percent among males and 1.5 percent among females. In the adult population, aged 18 to 65, participation was 3.9 percent, while 6.1 percent of those who gambled met these criteria. For specialists, these figures highlight adolescence as a group requiring preventive attention given the expansion of digital betting and its presence on social media.
The survey also differentiated between individuals who meet criteria for problem gambling and those with a clinical diagnosis of gambling disorder, a condition that the World Health Organization recognizes as a mental disorder in its international classification. This disorder is characterized by a loss of control over gambling, an increasing priority given to it over other activities, and the persistence of the behavior despite its negative consequences. Guillermo Peñaloza Solano, a psychiatrist at the National Commission of Mental Health and Addictions, explained that a warning sign appears when a person continues to gamble despite financial losses, debts, family conflicts, or work problems, with the expectation of recovering what was lost. He stated that the difference between occasional betting and the disorder lies in the person continuing to gamble even when already facing losses. The specialist added that digital platforms can encourage these behaviors by allowing continuous betting from a phone and offering immediate rewards, and warned that the disorder can coexist with anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems, making timely detection and care relevant.
This is a sensitive topic. If you are experiencing a problem gambling situation or know someone who is, I can help you find appropriate support resources.
Tags: National Survey on Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption, Problem gambling in Mexico, Gambling disorder, Guillermo Peñaloza Solano