1. Developmental Vulnerabilities
Emerging adulthood is marked by neurological and psychological immaturity. The frontal lobe—responsible for impulse control—continues developing into the mid-20s, making young adults more prone to risky decision-making (Emond et al., 2020; Jun, Sacco, & Cunningham-Williams, 2019). Mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and stress also play a key role, with gambling often used as a coping mechanism (Gavriel-Fried, Malka, & Levin, 2024; Marchica et al., 2020).
2. Early Exposure and Digital Normalization
As digital natives, emerging adults often encounter gambling-like mechanics early in life, including loot boxes and microtransactions, which normalize betting behaviors (King et al., 2020; Richard & King, 2022). These exposures create a seamless pathway from gaming to gambling. Such digital environments especially heighten risk for non-student emerging adults, who face greater vulnerability to problem gambling when engaged in microtransactions and online gaming (King et al., 2020).
3. Social and Environmental Influences
Peer networks and environments such as fraternities, sports teams, and online communities reinforce gambling as a socially acceptable activity (Sanscartier, Edgerton, & Roberts, 2017; Riley et al., 2021). Aggressive marketing and advertising, particularly via sports sponsorships and digital platforms, further normalize gambling, making it appear fun and rewarding (Mao, Zhang, & Connaughton, 2015; Wardle & Tipping, 2023).
4. Cultural and Economic Pressures
Financial pressures such as student debt, underemployment, and unstable income make gambling appealing as a quick fix (Oksanen et al., 2018; Fu, Monson, & Otto, 2020). Meanwhile, young people with disposable income but limited financial literacy may overspend. Research highlights racial and cultural disparities, with Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous youth facing higher risks of gambling-related harms (Calado, Alexandre, & Griffiths, 2018; Riley et al., 2021).
5. High-Risk Gambling Products
Certain forms of gambling pose especially high risks. Online sports betting is highly addictive due to speed and accessibility, particularly for men seeking entertainment and perceived control (Mao, Zhang, & Connaughton, 2015; Wardle & Tipping, 2023). Lottery play is disproportionately common among lower socioeconomic groups, raising equity concerns (Barnes et al., 2010; Fu, Monson, & Otto, 2020). Social casino games and loot boxes further blur the line between gaming and gambling (King et al., 2020).
6. Gambling Trajectories and Comorbidities
Longitudinal studies show multiple trajectories of gambling in emerging adulthood, from low-risk stable patterns to moderate-risk increasing pathways (Edgerton, Melnyk, & Roberts, 2015; Bray et al., 2014). Gambling often co-occurs with alcohol and substance use, depressive symptoms, antisocial behaviors, and poor emotion regulation, all of which accelerate transitions into problem gambling (Tackett et al., 2016; Jun, Sacco, & Cunningham-Williams, 2019; Marchica et al., 2020).
7. Consequences and Harms
The harms of gambling in emerging adulthood include financial problems, academic decline, substance misuse, poor mental health, and suicidality (Wardle & McManus, 2021; Hollén et al., 2020). Emerging adults who gamble are at greater risk for depression, anxiety, and addictive comorbidities compared to older adults (Gavriel-Fried, Malka, & Levin, 2024; Afifi et al., 2016).
8. Protective and Preventive Factors
Protective factors include individual skills (financial literacy, emotional regulation), supportive families, and peer-led initiatives that reshape norms around gambling (Lambe, Mackinnon, & Stewart, 2014; Savolainen et al., 2018). Educational institutions that integrate gambling awareness into mental health and financial literacy programs provide additional protection (Sanscartier, Shen, & Edgerton, 2019). At the systemic level, restrictions on predatory advertising and credit access can reduce harm (Oksanen et al., 2018).
Conclusion
Emerging adulthood is a high-risk but high-opportunity stage for gambling. Neurological immaturity, digital exposure, peer influence, financial pressures, and aggressive marketing converge to heighten vulnerability. Yet, with culturally tailored prevention, peer-driven interventions, and systemic protections, communities can reduce harms and help emerging adults transition into adulthood with resilience and healthier decision-making.
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References
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Bray, B. C., Lee, G. P., Liu, W., Storr, C. L., Ialongo, N. S., & Martins, S. S. (2014). Transitions in Gambling Participation During Late Adolescence and Young Adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(2), 188–194.
Calado, F., Alexandre, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2018). Gambling Among Adolescents and Emerging Adults: A Cross-Cultural Study Between Portuguese and English Youth. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 18.
Edgerton, J. D., Melnyk, T. S., & Roberts, L. W. (2015). An exploratory study of multiple distinct gambling trajectories in emerging adults. Journal of Youth Studies, 18(6), 743–762.
Emond, A., Griffiths, M. D., & Hollén, L. (2020). Problem Gambling in Early Adulthood: a Population-Based Study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 20.
Fu, H., Monson, E., & Otto, A. R. (2020). Relationships between socio-economic status and lottery gambling across lottery types: neighborhood-level evidence from a large city. Addiction, 116(5), 1256–1261.
Gavriel-Fried, B., Malka, I., & Levin, Y. (2024). The Dual Burden of Emerging Adulthood: Assessing Gambling Severity, Gambling-Related Harm, and Mental Health Challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 702.
Hollén, L., Dörner, R., Griffiths, M. D., & Emond, A. (2020). Gambling in Young Adults Aged 17–24 Years: A Population-Based Study. Journal of Gambling Studies, 36(3), 747–766.
Jun, H.-J., Sacco, P., & Cunningham-Williams, R. M. (2019). Gambling in Emerging Adulthood: the Role of Adolescent Depressive Symptoms, Antisocial Behaviors, and Alcohol Use. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19(2), 494–507.
King, A., Wong-Padoongpatt, G., Barrita, A., Phung, D. T., & Tong, T. (2020). Risk Factors of Problem Gaming and Gambling in US Emerging Adult Non-Students: The Role of Loot Boxes, Microtransactions, and Risk-Taking. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 41(12), 1–13.
Lambe, L., Mackinnon, S. P., & Stewart, S. H. (2014). Validation of the Gambling Motives Questionnaire in Emerging Adults. Journal of Gambling Studies, 31(3), 867–885.
Mao, L. L., Zhang, J. J., & Connaughton, D. P. (2015). Sports gambling as consumption: Evidence from demand for sports lottery. Sport Management Review, 18(3), 436–447.
Marchica, L. A., Keough, M. T., Montreuil, T. C., & Derevensky, J. L. (2020). Emotion Regulation Interacts with Gambling Motives to Predict Problem Gambling Among Emerging Adults. Addictive Behaviors, 106, 106378.
Oksanen, A., Savolainen, I., Sirola, A., & Kaakinen, M. (2018). Problem gambling and psychological distress: a cross-national perspective on the mediating effect of consumer debt and debt problems among emerging adults. Harm Reduction Journal, 15(1).
Richard, J., & King, S. M. (2022). Annual Research Review: Emergence of problem gambling from childhood to emerging adulthood: a systematic review. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64(4).
Riley, B. J., Oster, C., Rahamathulla, M., & Lawn, S. (2021). Attitudes, Risk Factors, and Behaviours of Gambling among Adolescents and Young People: A Literature Review and Gap Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(3), 984.
Sanscartier, M. D., Edgerton, J. D., & Roberts, L. W. (2017). A Latent Class Analysis of Gambling Activity Patterns in a Canadian University Sample of Emerging Adults. Journal of Gambling Studies, 34(3), 863–880.
Sanscartier, M. D., Shen, J., & Edgerton, J. D. (2019). Gambling Among Emerging Adults: How Gender and Risk Level Influence Associated Problem Behaviours. Journal of Gambling Issues, 41.
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Additional research articles for your consideration:
Ariyabuddhiphongs, V. (2010). Lottery Gambling: A Review. Journal of Gambling Studies, 27(1), 15–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-010-9194-0
The author investigates lottery gambling to understand why people play in the lottery, why does gambling become addictive, and psychological factors behind it. The study explores key topics like youth gambling, the potential harms of the lottery, psychological aspects of gambling, why adults are influenced to gamble and how younger adults become influenced by their parents to take risks with gambling. It also identifies any association lottery gambling may be connected to like age, gender, education, socioeconomic status. The article reviews various theories to explain the psychological and behavioral effects of lottery gambling.
Costes, J.-M., Kairouz, S., Monson, E., & Eroukmanoff, V. (2018). Where Lies the Harm in Lottery Gambling? A Portrait of Gambling Practices and Associated Problems. Journal of Gambling Studies, 34(4), 1293–1311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-018-9761-3
The authors study whether lottery gambling was actually harmful or just low risk since it is socially accepted by many people. The study focused on comparing the behaviors and problems of gambling of those who only engage in lottery gambling to those who engage in multiple forms of gambling. The problem was figuring out who the lottery gamblers even are speaking in terms of their gender, age, income, education, etc. Mainly investigating the problem of lottery gambling since it is usually considered to be a low-risk gambling activity.
Rogers, P. (1998). The Cognitive Psychology of Lottery Gambling: A Theoretical Review. Journal of Gambling Studies, 14(2), 111–134. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1023042708217
The author considers the psychological aspect of gambling. The research focuses on the irrational beliefs and cognitive bias of lottery gambling. Most individuals tend to believe they have lucky numbers or are superstitious when gambling. If an individual wins in the past they believe that the past outcome of the last time they played will influence future draws which keeps them addicted to playing even when they know they should stop. Individuals believe that they have control over certain events when gambling even though in reality it is a chance they are taking.
Stockdale, L., & Coyne, S. M. (2018). Video game addiction in emerging adulthood: Cross-sectional evidence of pathology in video game addicts as compared to matched healthy controls. Journal of Affective Disorders, 225, 265–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.045
The authors study how mental health problems increased in young adults the more they played video games. Using two groups of teenagers, one group who didn’t play video games and one group who played video games often. The two groups of teenagers were compared, and the results showed that the group who played video games suffered many health risks. Females who had a gambling addiction of video games were shown to suffer from more health risks than men.
Teng, Z., Pontes, H. M., Nie, Q., Xiang, G., Griffiths, M. D., & Guo, C. (2020). Internet gaming disorder and psychosocial well-being: A longitudinal study of older-aged adolescents and emerging adults. Addictive Behaviors, 110, 106530. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106530
The study examines college students over time to see if poor psychological factors influenced the risk of internet gaming disorders to increase. The study found that internet gaming disorders causes low self-esteem, poor social support, and being dissatisfied with life. The research also showed that these factors of poor psychological factors were found to be higher in men than females due to gaming disorders. The gaming disorders influenced poor mental health over time leading to adulthood.
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