Gaza War Linked to Rise in Problem Gambling in Israel
Summary
A longitudinal study from the Israel Center for Addiction and Mental Health (ICAMH) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, supported by researchers from other Israeli universities and medical centres, links the October 7 2023 attacks and the ensuing Gaza war to a rise in problem gambling in Israel.
The research, led by Prof. Mario Mikulincer and Dr Uri Lifshin and published in the Journal of Gambling Studies, tracked close to 900 Jewish Israeli adults before and during the war. It found a sharp increase in gambling problems among men who struggle with emotional regulation, with trauma pushing some to gamble as an escape. The study also revealed complex patterns: some people who previously didn’t gamble began to, while some high-risk gamblers actually reduced their play during the crisis. The effects were consistent across age and education groups, suggesting a broader collective impact on behaviour.
Key Points
- The study followed roughly 900 Jewish Israeli adults (445 men and 444 women) before and during the Gaza war.
- Men with greater difficulties in emotional regulation showed a marked rise in problem gambling after October 7 2023.
- Trauma appears to push some people towards gambling as a coping mechanism or escape.
- Some high-risk gamblers reduced their gambling during the crisis, signalling varied behavioural responses to trauma.
- Findings were consistent across ages and education levels, indicating a collective psychological effect rather than one confined to specific demographic groups.
- The researchers call for better support tools for those affected by collective trauma to prevent harmful coping behaviours.
Why should I read this?
Look — if you care about gambling harm, public health or how large-scale trauma ripples through society, this one’s worth five minutes. It shows trauma doesn’t just show up on the evening news: it changes how people cope, and that can mean more gambling problems. Useful if you work in treatment, policy, regulation or the gambling industry and want the quick lowdown on why demand for support could spike.
Author style
Punchy and to the point: this research links a major national trauma to measurable increases in problem gambling among men with emotional-regulation difficulties. The finding matters — it highlights a pressing need for targeted mental-health and gambling-harm interventions during and after collective crises. Read the detail if you influence policy, treatment provision or industry safer-gambling strategies.
Source
Source: https://www.gamblingnews.com/news/gaza-war-linked-to-rise-in-problem-gambling-in-israel/