The Cost of Mental Health on Online Gambling
Aryan Danil Mirza BR
*
, Maiyomi Sanjaya, Muhamad Dimas Pangestu,
Nafilah Shofa Azzahra and Neny Desriani
Department of Accounting, Faculty of Economic and Business, University of Lampung, Bandar Lampung, Indonesia
Keywords: Mental Health, Online Gambling, Addiction, Bibliometric Analysis, Scopus Database.
Abstract: The rapid development of technology across various digital platforms has made it easier to access online
gambling sites, leading many individuals to be tempted to try their luck, ultimately causing some to become
addicted and potentially disrupting their mental well-being. Research on mental health on online gambling
has been conducted since 2007 up to the present year, 2023. Therefore, scientific research utilizing
bibliometric analysis has become crucial. The aim of this study is to examine current literature on participatory
budgeting by assessing publication trends, citation analysis, most-cited authors, and overall themes. We hope
that this study can be beneficial for researchers and professionals, especially in the field of mental health. The
research employs bibliometric methods on 55 publication documents from the Scopus database spanning from
2007 to 2023. Microsoft Excel is used for frequency analysis, VOS Viewer for data visualization, and
Harzing's Publish or Perish for citation counting. The focus of this research is to determine the most common
authors, research topics, and citation patterns related to the study of mental health on online gambling. This
research endeavour offers a bibliometric scrutiny of the literature regarding mental health as it pertains to
online gambling. The inquiry demonstrates that online gambling has manifold consequences on mental well-
being, including but not limited to addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide. Furthermore, this
examination pinpoints the lacunae and obstacles within the present literature, while also proposing avenues
for forthcoming research. Ultimately, the purpose of this study is to contribute to the knowledge and praxis
of mental health professionals who are confronted with issues relating to online gambling.
1 INTRODUCTION
Online gambling is increasingly popular in this digital
era due to the easy access to a variety of games and the
allure of substantial cash prizes. Online gambling
encompasses betting, such as on various football
events or even during elections, as well as online
games like roulette, poker, blackjack, and others. A
large majority of individuals who engage in online
gambling also participate in offline gambling,
indicating that gamblers take advantage of the
increased accessibility to various forms of gambling
(Griffiths & Kuss, 2015)
The global increase in online gambling has led to
a corresponding increase in the number of individuals
seeking treatment for gambling addiction specifically
related to internet gaming (Sharman et al., 2019; Hing
et al., 2015; Wood & Williams, 2009). While it is
indicated by empirical evidence that individuals who
engage in gambling activities offline are more
frequently encountered in clinical environments
(Gainsbury, S. M. 2015) and services for problem
gamblers (Ledgerwood et al., 2012), a few
jurisdictions (such as Sweden) have reported that
online gamblers seeking help have surpassed offline
gamblers for the first time (Rodda, 2017.).
Although gambling is a form of entertainment and
enjoyment for some consumers, there is a small
portion of the population that engages in compulsive
gambling, where their participation extends beyond
entertainment and leans towards the realm of losses
(Gupta et al., 2006). Issues emerging from gambling
arise when gambling behaviour results in substantial
financial losses for people, their acquaintances, and
their families, as well as for the community (Ferris and
Wynne, 2001). The global prevalence rates of
gambling-related issues among the adult population
range from 0.12% to 5.8% (Calado and Griffiths,
2016).
There is a considerable amount of research
explaining the relationship between online gambling
258
Mirza BR, A. D., Sanjaya, M., Pangestu, M. D., Azzahra, N. S. and Desriani, N.
The Cost of Mental Health on Online Gambling.
DOI: 10.5220/0013671200003873
Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Medical Science and Health (ICOMESH 2023), pages 258-270
ISBN: 978-989-758-740-5
Proceedings Copyright © 2025 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.

and mental health. Online gambling also has negative
impacts on the mental health of participants, such as
stress, anxiety, depression, and the potential for
addiction that can affect brain function. Individuals
who become addicted to online gambling will exhibit
distinctive psychological reactions and characteristics.
Economic pressures can lead a gambler to suffer
emotionally and psychologically, ultimately
damaging relationships with friends or even family.
However, family and friends need to be aware of the
proper ways to approach someone addicted to online
gambling and become more sensitive to the issue.
Research suggests that due to the negative perception
of gambling problems, family and friends often turn to
the internet to get guidance on how to address their
loved ones' gambling concerns (Banks, et al., 2018;
Rodda, et al.,2013).
Escalating financial losses might give rise to
intergenerational repercussions, culminating in
destitution or lack of permanent housing (Browne et
al., 2016). Studies have found that online problem
gamblers, in comparison to those who gamble offline,
are more likely to be male, younger, have lower levels
of psychological stress, have difficulties with sports
and race betting, and are less inclined to seek
assistance (Hing et al., 2015; Wardle et al., 2011).
Online gamblers typically have higher levels of debt
compared to offline gambling (Estévez et al., 2017).
Notwithstanding significant losses, the proportion
of individuals seeking treatment for gambling issues is
minimal, since less than 10% of problem gamblers
actively seek assistance from trained professionals
(Evans & Delfabro, 2005; Slutske, 2006). Several
obstacles to getting therapy have been found, such as
feelings of embarrassment, discomfort, and social
stigma (Gainsbury, Hing, & Suhonen, 2014). Online
information can mitigate certain obstacles to accessing
assistance for mental health concerns (Baumel et al.,
2018; Lal & Adair, 2014) and enhance the probability
of persons seeking help, complying with treatment,
and achieving recovery (Griffiths & Crisp, 2013;
Jorm, 2012). The guidelines encompass mental health
first aid protocols for various conditions such as
depression, eating disorders, non-suicidal self-injury,
panic attacks, excessive drinking, drug addiction,
psychosis, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and
traumatic experiences in both adults and children
(Jorm & Ross, 2018).
A study conducted in Canada with a sample size
of 32 individuals who had issues with online gambling
demonstrated that cognitive-behavioral treatment
(CBT), which is routinely employed to treat problem
gamblers in physical casinos, is equally successful in
treating individuals with problematic online gambling
habits (Harris & Mazmanian, 2016a). Nevertheless,
this study did not examine potential distinctions
between cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for those
who gamble in physical locations and those who
gamble online. Instead, it focused on comparing
online gamblers who received treatment with those
who were placed on a waiting list. Thus, it is not
possible to make any definitive conclusions regarding
the relative effectiveness and specificity for those who
gamble online. In another qualitative study conducted
by the same authors (Harris & Mazmanian, 2016b),
open responses were collected from 24 online
gamblers who identified themselves as seeking
treatment for gambling disorder. The study found
evidence that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
was beneficial for this group. However, it was
concluded that there was no need to customize CBT
specifically for the unique aspects of online gambling.
One factor contributing to online gambling being
risky for mental health is cognitive distortion.
Cognitive distortions are thinking errors that lead
someone to believe they can influence the outcome of
the game or that they will eventually win (Wallace,
2022). These cognitive distortions can lead someone
to continue gambling despite significant losses and
feeling unable to stop. Cognitive distortions can also
be influenced by factors such as mood, emotions,
expectations, and social influence.
Given the observed phenomena, it is crucial to
further analyze the trends in the relationship between
online gambling and mental health over the past few
decades. The aim of this research is to identify factors
influencing the mental health of online gamblers,
measure the levels of their dependence and cognitive
distortions, and explore the psychological and social
impacts of online gambling on themselves and their
close associates. This research is expected to provide
insights and recommendations for online gamblers,
their families, communities, and governments to
prevent and address mental health issues resulting
from online gambling. The bibliometric techniques
applied in this research focus on mental health studies,
offering measurable and objective benefits. By
employing these methods, researchers can identify
publication trends, analyze citations, assess author
popularity, and explore research themes related to
mental health on online gambling.
2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Online Gambling
Gambling issues have been identified as an emerging
public health concern, and there is a need to identify
The Cost of Mental Health on Online Gambling
259

gambling trends and regularly update the prevalence
rates of gambling worldwide. For most people,
gambling is a fun and harmless activity. However, for
a small percentage of individuals, it can become an
addiction and a problem with severe negative
consequences (Meyer, Hayer, & Griffiths, 2009).
Online gambling, also known as internet
gambling, is a form of gaming that involves the use
of money or goods as stakes, where the winner is
determined through various types of games, such as
cards, mahjong, lotteries, and others, played through
electronic media with internet access. Online
gambling has been increasingly popular in
comparison to traditional gambling due to several
factors, including constant accessibility, anonymity,
and faster gameplay (Barrault & Varescon, 2016).
With the rapid development of digital technology and
online platforms, access to online gambling has
become easier compared to conventional gambling in
physical locations. Online gambling can be highly
enticing and addictive, as the potential for significant
profits can encourage individuals to keep trying.
Many people who initially just try online gambling
end up caught in a cycle of increasing bets, unaware
that the larger the bets they take, the greater the risk
of potential losses.
2.2 Mental Health
Mental health refers to a condition of optimal
psychological well-being, where individuals are able
to recognize and utilize their own capabilities,
effectively manage typical daily pressures, maintain
productive and meaningful work, and make positive
contributions to their communities (World Health
Organization, 2004). Good mental health indicates
that an individual has the capacity to lead a
meaningful, productive, and balanced life, and can
cope with the challenges and pressures of daily life.
Mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety,
and schizophrenia, can impact a person's mental well-
being and require medical attention and support.
Optimal mental health is a key component in
achieving overall well-being.
2.3 Types of Online Gambling
There are four categories of gambling based on the
psychological characteristics of the gamblers,
(Stanford Wong and Susan Spector,1996)
Gambling: This refers to widespread online
gambling, such as Online Betting, Online Casinos,
Online Sports Betting, Online Poker, and Online
Togel.
Sociable Games: These are games where
everyone wins or loses together. In this category,
players wager money or items on a predetermined
device or medium, not against each other. Examples
of such gambling include Dice, Baccarat, Pai Gow
Poker, Blackjack, Let It Ride, and American Roulette.
Analytical Games: These are gambling activities
that require research, accurate information, and the
ability to analyze various events. Examples include
Horse Racing and Sports Betting.
Patience Games: These are leisurely gambling
activities where players are not in a hurry to see
results. In this category, players must patiently wait
for their chosen numbers to be drawn. Examples of
games in this category include Lottery, Keno, and
Bingo.
2.4 Causes of Online Gambling
2.4.1 Social and Economic Factors
Individuals who engage in online gambling often
believe that it can yield instant and easy profits,
leading to significant addiction as they envision quick
wealth.
2.4.2 Situational Factors
People may turn to online gambling due to a
consumer-oriented society and the pressure to earn
money easily and rapidly without exerting much
effort. This is reinforced by the extensive marketing
of online gambling, enticing individuals to try due to
its perceived high success rate.
2.4.3 Learning Factors
Individuals enticed into online gambling may be
driven by curiosity or invitations from others,
sparking their interest to try. This factor also
contributes to why someone continues to gamble;
even if they lose, there is a belief that they might win
in future opportunities.
2.4.4 Perception of Winning Probability
Factors
Gamblers find it difficult to quit gambling because
they are convinced that they have a high chance of
winning and that it can bring greater profits than the
amount wagered.
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2.5 The Impact of Online Gambling on
Mental Health
The present younger generation is maturing in a time
period characterized by the prevalence of gaming
chances (Volberg et al., 2010; Gupta and Derevensky,
2000). In addition, technological progress has led to
the emergence of novel gambling platforms such as
the Internet, mobile phones, and interactive television
(Griffiths and Parke, 2010). Additionally, it is said
that the younger population rapidly adopts
contemporary forms of gambling because of the
evident parallels between these activities and other
technology-driven games that they are already
acquainted with (Delfabbro et al., 2009).
The issues arising from gambling arise when
gambling behavior results in substantial financial
losses for the individual, their social circle, or the
community (Ferris and Wynne, 2001). Individuals
afflicted with mental health disorders, such as anxiety
and depression, are at a heightened risk of
encountering difficulties as a result of engaging in
gambling activities (Rockloff et al., 2020).
Psychological disorders frequently contribute to
societal deficits (Stanton et al., 2020), which, when
coupled with gambling-related concerns, might
intensify the deficits. The global prevalence of
individuals suffering from gambling-related issues is
estimated to be between 0.12% and 5.8% of the adult
population (Calado and Griffiths, 2016). While
gambling can be a relatively harmless pastime for
certain individuals, it carries the risk of several
negative outcomes such as financial hardships,
strained relationships, deteriorating health, reduced
work efficiency, and engagement in criminal
behavior (Browne et al., 2017).
Empirical evidence exists that investigates the
influence of gambling disorders on mental health
(Scholes-Balog & Hemphill, 2012). Responsible
gamblers typically engage in gambling for leisure
purposes, while problem gamblers seek to utilize
gaming as a means to modify their existing emotional
states (Wood & Griffiths, 2015). According to King
and Barak (1999), individuals with gambling
problems experience negative emotions both during
online gaming and in general. According to multiple
user testimonies, those who participate in different
forms of online gambling have a higher occurrence of
mental health illnesses (Lloyd et al., 2010).
Additionally, online gamblers are more susceptible to
alcohol and cannabis usage (Scholes-Balog &
Hemphill, 2012; Kairouz, et al., 2012;).
Individuals suffering from mental health disorders
are prone to resort to gambling as a means of seeking
relief. Individuals who utilize gambling as a means of
escapism are prone to engaging in more frequent
gambling activities. Moreover, those who partake in
high-risk betting are more inclined to experience
financial losses, leading to increased overall
expenditures on gaming. Hence, these two gambling
traits have the potential to foster the emergence of
gambling-related issues and have been linked to risks
in gambling conduct surveys (Flack and Morris,
2015; Wiehler and Peters, 2015). Studies suggest that
individuals with depression find playing electronic
gaming machines in a state of flow highly pleasurable
(Dixon et al., 2019). Additionally, gambling as a
means of escape can moderate the connection
between depression and encountering gambling-
related issues (Vaughan and Flack, 2022).
3 METHODS
This study employs bibliometric analysis, which has
the capacity to address questions in the field of
research. The bibliometric approach involves the use
of quantitative analysis and statistical methods to
evaluate literature. Yeung, et al., (2017) advocate for
the adoption of bibliometric techniques, revealing
significant citation scores for brain imaging and brain
connectivity terminology in neuroscience research
from 2006 to 2015. It is noteworthy that this
methodology extends beyond the confines of books,
articles, journals, and other published works (Hall,
2011; Daim et al., 2006; Bellis, 2009). Bibliometrics
enables the examination of publications,
encompassing authors, citations, and keyword
frequencies (Rusly, et al., 2019; Ahmi & Mohamad,
2019), thus allowing for an assessment of the
research's significance across various scientific
domains.
In this specific investigation, researchers obtained
metadata from the Scopus database using the
specified keywords 'Mental Health in Online
Gambling. Through this process, Scopus data yielded
a total of 55 documents related to Mental Health in
the context of Online Gambling. This collection
includes 41 articles, 6 reviews, 4 editorials, 2 letters,
1 note, and 1 conference paper. The next step in the
examination involved exporting the metadata in CSV
format. Subsequently, the researchers utilized VOS
Viewer to visually represent the network and
conducted frequency analysis using Microsoft Excel.
The Cost of Mental Health on Online Gambling
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4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Gambling has become a common phenomenon
frequently encountered in society. Anyone can engage
in gambling, regardless of gender, age, or socio-
economic background. Unlike in the past when
gambling typically involved face-to-face interactions,
the current situation is different. Gambling no longer
requires direct face-to-face encounters; instead, the
gambling system has become global (Susanti, 2021).
The increasing number of players and enthusiasts in
online gambling is closely tied to the advancement of
technology worldwide. Individuals can easily access
various online gambling sites from anywhere and at
any time. This is a concern as it is anticipated to impact
not only the mental health of users but also the mental
health of those around them, such as spouses, children,
parents, and siblings. (Park et al., 2022) indicates that
treatment for someone addicted to online gambling is
still difficult to find due to low accessibility, stigma,
and costs. That's why appropriate treatment is still
being continuously evaluated.
For the past few years, the world has been hit by
Covid-19, causing a very significant impact on digital
developments, including gambling. Financial and
mental health issues are affected by online gambling
behaviour (Price et al., 2023). Due to the
recommendation for self-isolation, individuals are
conducting all activities through gadgets, leading to a
rapid increase in online gambling players. The risk of
online gambling addiction appears to be significant
compared to offline gambling. This is due to the
various online gambling variations on different
websites, coupled with relatively larger and more
enticing bonuses and profits. These factors encourage
individuals to continue playing online gambling in the
hope of multiplying their gains. However, their
psychological well-being can easily be threatened.
Serna et al. (2023) investigated various factors
influencing the increased risk of online gambling
addiction, such as parental education and family. A
study found that an authoritative and indulgent
parenting style can protect children from becoming
addicted to online gambling. Conversely, an
authoritarian parenting style, characterized by
strictness and coercion, can lead children to gravitate
towards online gambling sites. Additionally, there is
the phenomenon of tipsters. Research has highlighted
the influence of tipsters as influencers in online
gambling and their potential to increase the risk of
addiction to this activity (Gonzálvez-Vallés et al.,
2021).
Susanti (2021) conducted a study on the
phenomenon of online gambling and its impact on
individuals, especially players, which tends to lean
towards the negative side. In terms of material aspects,
individuals who lose in gambling may lose material
possessions, such as money they could have used as
capital. They might resort to other measures, such as
not paying money for buying books or for educational
purposes but redirecting it as additional deposits. On
the spiritual side, individuals who win in gambling
often engage in negative activities, such as excessive
drinking and other deviant behaviours. Online
gambling tends to have more negative effects than
positive ones. The impact is not only on the gamblers
themselves but also affects those around them. Marital
conflicts can arise due to individuals addicted to
online gambling. Typically, husbands who engage in
online gambling tend to spend their money on
purchasing internet data packages and continuously
making deposits. This addiction poses a danger to the
psychological well-being of individuals because the
misfortune in gambling can disrupt the mental health
of the players. Their emotions are likely to be unstable,
leading to conflicts in the household, and an increased
vulnerability to domestic violence (KDRT). This
condition can not only be verbal but also cause non-
verbal trauma to those around them.
In conclusion, it can be inferred that engaging in
online gambling can give rise to various psychological
issues for players. Online gambling has the potential
to disrupt the brain's functioning, subsequently
releasing dopamine hormones and inducing feelings
of pleasure and satisfaction. After winning a bet, an
individual's brain elicits an emotional response. When
addicted, other activities may no longer produce the
same positive response, leading individuals to resort
to gambling to achieve a similar sense of joy.
Additionally, online gambling can have adverse
effects on physical well-being, including increased
stress, sleep deprivation, and other cardiovascular
problems. Online gambling has the potential to harm
social and familial relationships, as it can lead to
deceptive, stealing, violent behaviors, and more.
Susanti (2021) suggests that decisive actions are
needed by implementing legal sanctions and
rehabilitation for players, bookmakers, and tipsters to
discourage their support for online gambling
activities. Rehabilitation efforts can also be carried out
by local community leaders to encourage people to
actively monitor and report instances of increased
online gambling activities. Regarding the perpetrators
or players of gambling and individuals directly
involved in online gambling activities, besides facing
legal penalties, they can also undergo rehabilitation to
help them become better individuals and refrain from
engaging in deviant activities.
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Based on the results of data retrieval using Scopus
related to mental health in online gambling, the
collected data in CSV format was further processed
using VOS viewer. This is done to generate a
visualization of the data in the form of images that are
easily understandable.
Based on the observation results, there are various
types of documents related to the search keywords
'MENTAL HEALTH ON ONLINE GAMBLING.'
We present the analysis results in several tables
according to subject area, document type, source title,
affiliation, search keywords, dominant country, search
type, and language used. We also include the VOS
Viewer search results in the form of images and
clustering as visualizations that support this research.
.
Figure 1. Network Visualization Display of Scopus Database
Figure 2. Network Visualization Display of Scopus Database Based on Authorship
The Cost of Mental Health on Online Gambling
263

Table 1: Subject Area
Subject Area Total
Medicine 45
Ps
y
cholo
gy
15
Environmental Science 8
Social Sciences 7
Neuroscience 6
Arts and Humanities 3
Pharmacology, Toxicology, and
Pharmaceutics
2
Nursing 2
Engineering 2
Computer Science 2
Multidisciplinary 1
Mathematics 1
Health Professions 1
Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular
Biolog
y
1
Table 1 represents the distribution of research
papers or publications in various fields of study.
Medicine has the highest number of publications with
a total of 45 publications, which indicates a strong
emphasis on research in this field. Psychology is next
with 15 publications, which indicates a significant
academic focus in this field as well. Environmental
Science, Social Sciences, and Neuroscience each
followed with 8, 7, and 6 publications, respectively,
which indicate a substantial presence in the world of
science. The lower numbers in the clusters of Arts and
Humanities, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and
Pharmaceutics, Nursing, Engineering, Computer
Science, Multidisciplinary, Mathematics, Health
Professions, and Biochemistry, Genetics, and
Molecular Biology may indicate relatively less
research output in these fields or perhaps a narrower
focus.
Table 2: Document Type
Document T
yp
e Total
Article 41
Review 6
Editorial 4
Lette
r
2
Note 1
Conference Pa
p
e
r
1
Table 2 is a summary table of citations for various
types of academic publications. From the data, we can
observe that the publication “Article” has received 41
citations, making it the most cited document
category. “Note” and “Conference Paper” received 1
citation, which is common for this type of
publication. “Letter” has received 2 citations,
indicating little academic attention, while the
publications “Review” and “Editorial” have obtained
6 citations and 4 citations, respectively, indicating the
importance of the papers in the scientific discourse.
The total of 55 citations shows how much the topic of
Mental Health on Online Gambling contributes to the
realm of science (scientific).
Table 3: Journal Source
Source Title Total
International Journal of Environmental
Research and Public Health
8
Frontiers in Ps
y
chiatr
y
5
Journal of Gambling Studies 4
International Journal of Mental Health and
Addiction
4
Social Science and Medicine 2
Journal of Behavioral Addictions 2
Addictive Behaviors 2
World Pyschiatry 1
Sucht 1
Sosial Psychiatry and Psychiatric
Epidemiolog
y
1
Public Health 1
Ps
y
chiatr
y
Investi
g
ation 1
Plos One 1
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews 1
Monatsschrift Fur Kinderheilkunde 1
Medical Journal of Australia 1
Lecture Notes in Computer Science Including
Subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial
Intelligence and Lecture Notes in
Bioinformatics
1
Lancet Psychiatry 1
Journal of Addictive Diseases 1
Jmir Serious Games 1
Irish Journal of Ps
y
cholo
g
ical Medicine 1
Internet Intervetions 1
International Journal of Adolescent Medicine
and Health
1
Frontiers in Di
g
ital Health 1
Early Intervention in Psychiatr
y
1
Current Psychology 1
Current Opinion in Psychiatr
y
1
Current Addction Re
p
orts 1
Com
p
rehensive Ps
y
chiatr
y
1
British Journal of General Practice 1
Brain Stimulation 1
BMJ Open 1
BMC Public Health 1
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine
1
Advances In Psychiatric Treatment 1
Table 3 provides a brief overview of the
publication and citation patterns over several years,
highlighting the variability in the number of
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264

publications. The analysis on the number of citations
shows evidence that there is a significant variation in
the number of citations received by publications from
different years from 2007 to 2023 (now). This
indicates that although there is variation in the annual
number of publications and citations, the overall work
has had a significant impact
Table 4: Afiliation
Affiliation Total
The University of Sydne
y
4
Responsible Gambling Council 3
Universit
y
of Cal
g
ar
y
3
Hos
p
ital Universitari de Bellvit
g
e 3
Institut d’Investi
g
acio Biomedicade Bellvid
g
e3
Universitat de Barcelona 2
Instituto de Salud Carlos III 2
Yale Universit
y
2
Nottin
g
ham Trent Universit
y
2
Universit
y
of Za
g
reb School of Medicine 2
Universit
y
of S
p
lit 2
Klinicka bolnica Dubrava 2
University of Zagreb 2
The Australian National Universit
y
2
Universit
y
of Manitoba 2
Tam
p
ere Universit
y
2
Universite de Sherbrooke 2
Southern Cross Universit
y
2
Yale Child Study Cente
r
2
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health 2
Universit
y
of Toronto 2
Yale School of Medicine 2
University of Lethbridge 2
University of Southampton 2
University of Southampton, Faculty of
Medicine
2
Lunds Universitet 2
Connecticut Mental Health Cente
r
2
Universite Laval 2
Stanford Universit
y
School of Medicine 2
Ariel Universit
y
2
Centro de Investigacion Biomedica En Red de
Salud Mental
2
Table 4 explains the contribution of each university
in providing articles related to mental health on online
budgeting. The search results show that The
University of Sydney has the highest number with 4
articles, indicating that The University of Sydney
appears most frequently in the data search. Next in
rank are Responsible Gambling Council, University
of Calgary, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, and
Institut d’Investigacio Biomedicade Bellvidge, all of
which have 3 articles each. and some other
universities have lower contributions, namely 1
article. This means that they are relatively rare in this
data set. This analysis provides insight into the
distribution of these universities in supporting the
literature on mental health on online gambling.
Table 5: Top Keyword
Top Keyword Total
Comorbidit
y
9
A
g
e
d
9
Surve
y
s And Question 8
Risk Facto
r
8
Problem Gambling 8
Prevalence 8
Mental Disease 8
Behavioral Addiction 8
Alcohol Consum
p
tion 8
Ps
y
cholo
g
ical Well-
b
ein
g
7
Im
p
ulsiveness 7
Gende
r
7
Pandemics 6
Online shopping 6
Online Game 6
Lockdown 6
Dru
g
De
p
endence 6
Distress S
y
ndrome 6
Anxiety Disorde
r
6
Video Games 5
Video Game 5
Substance-Related Disorders 5
Social media 5
Review 5
Population Research 5
Health Service 5
Health Care Personel 5
Disease Severit
y
5
Co
g
nition 5
Behavior Assestment 5
United Kin
g
do
m
4
Suicide 4
Suicidal Ideation 4
South Korea 4
Smokin
g
4
Table 5 provides an overview of the frequency of
keywords in the data set, which are related to research
or literature analysis in the field of mental health and
gambling. “Comorbidity” and “age” appear as the
most frequent keywords with a number of 9,
indicating the strong presence of these concepts in the
data set. This shows that comorbidity and age are
important focuses of the material that needs to be
analyzed. In addition, terms such as “mental illness”
and “addictive behavior” appear next with a number
of 8, indicating that these terms are also relevant
topics. Overall, this table provides a brief overview of
The Cost of Mental Health on Online Gambling
265

the prominent keywords in the data set, which can
guide further exploration and analysis of the
underlying research or literature.
Table 6 and Figure 3 show the contribution of
each country for articles related to “Mental health on
online gambling”. The search results show that
Canada and Australia have the most articles with 11
articles, indicating that these two countries appear
most frequently in the data search. The United States
and the United Kingdom are second with 8 articles,
and some countries such as Italy, Indonesia, and India
have 1 to 3 articles. This indicates that they are not
very common in this data set. This analysis supports
the literature on mental health on online gambling by
providing insight into the distribution of these
countries.
Table 6: Country
Country Total
Canada 11
Australia 11
United States 8
United Kin
g
dom 8
Spain 4
South Korea 3
Ital
y
3
Israel 3
German
y
3
France 3
Finlan
d
3
Sweden 2
India 2
Croatia 2
Undefine
d
1
U
g
anda 1
Turke
y
1
Switzerlan
d
1
Portugal 1
North Macedonia 1
New Zealan
d
1
Lithuania 1
Japan 1
Irelan
d
1
Indonesia 1
Hun
g
ar
y
1
Gibralta
r
1
Cyprus 1
Cameroon 1
Austria 1
Figure 3: Network Visualization View of Scopus database by Country
Table 7: Document Source
Source Total
Journal 54
Book Series 1
Total 55
Table 7 describes the types of sources available
for various types of academic publications. Journal
sources with type 54 are the most cited, as shown by
the data. Followed by book series as many as 1,
indicating a lack of academic attention. A total of
55 citations shows how important mental health is
in online gambling in science.
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Table 8: Language
Lan
g
ua
g
e Total
En
g
lish 53
German 2
Total 55
Table 8 shows the distribution of titles in various
languages, with a total of 55 titles; English titles
dominate the collection, with 53 titles, indicating a
significant majority. This shows that English is the
main language used for these titles, and this may
reflect the main language of the source material or
the intended audience. Meanwhile, Germany only
contributed two articles in the total count, indicating
that they are less present compared to England.
5 CONCLUSIONS
This research uses bibliometric analysis to gain
knowledge about the trends and current state of
research, current citations, most popular authors,
and future research on mental health on online
gambling. The first is about the current trends and
conditions of mental health on online gambling
research publications. Studies on Mental Health on
Online Gambling have started since 2007 until now.
Since 2007, the number of publications has
increased significantly. Most of the research on
Mental Health on Online Gambling has been
published in the form of articles and in English.
In this case, International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health is the
source title that publishes the most studies. In
addition, Canada and Australia are the most
dominant countries in contributing to the research
publications on Mental Health on Online Gambling.
Meanwhile, the institution that publishes the most
research on Mental Health on Online Gambling
currently is The University of Sydney. Human is the
highest keyword with 47 keywords for this research.
In addition, the research on Mental Health on
Online Gambling is mostly done in the field of
medicine, so this field of study can be seen from a
health perspective.
Regarding the citation patterns in the current
publications on Mental Health on Online Gambling.
The highest number of citations is Gainsbury S.M.
(2015) with 136 citations. In 16 years of
publication, there are 55 articles on Mental Health
on Online Gambling. Therefore, Gainsbury S.M.
(2015) provides a significant contribution to the
number of citations. The most cited articles
generally come from Canada, Australia, the United
States, and the United Kingdom.
This research has significant implications for
regulatory policies and efforts to prevent online
gambling. It can help identify causative factors,
mental health risks associated with online gambling,
motivate enhancements in public protection, and
encourage platform providers to implement
responsive measures to address these issues. In this
context, it is crucial to integrate mental well-being
aspects into online gambling regulations to prevent
potential negative impacts.
Opportunities for further research may include
factors in online gambling affecting players' mental
health, effective prevention and intervention
strategies to reduce mental health risks related to
online gambling, the influence of new technologies
on the online gambling experience, the impact of
online gambling on vulnerable populations such as
teenagers or individuals with mental disorders, and
the role and impact of family involvement in online
gambling on players' mental health.
This research has limitations that need to be
overcome, the first one is about the database used in
this research. This study utilizes data sourced from
the Scopus database. The database utilized must be
enlarged in order to acquire more thorough findings
in the subsequent research. While Scopus is the
most extensive academic database, it is possible that
there are still several journals that are not included
in its coverage. Additional databases that can be
utilized for future research include Dimension, Web
of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar.
Second, the keywords used in this research are
Mental Health on Online Gambling which are only
taken from the keywords. This means that the search
query results on other columns such as authors,
affiliations, source titles, abstracts, and keywords
have not been included. For the next research, it is
expected to obtain more representative results by
including other fields in this research.
Third, although this research uses formal tools
such as PoP, VOSviewer, and Mendeley
applications, subjective assessments by the authors
can still lead to the introduction of errors. There is
no search request that is 100% perfect.
Nevertheless, despite these limitations, our research
has made a valuable contribution to the bibliometric
analysis of the Mental Health sector in relation to
Online Gambling which has not been much
researched. It is hoped that this research can provide
meaningful insights that can be used as a reference
for developing science in this field.
The Cost of Mental Health on Online Gambling
267

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