2026 Gambling and Mental Health Research

New study finds over a third of young men at risk of gambling related harm; fathers disproportionately affected. This is particularly concerning because men who are at risk of problem gambling are nearly twice as likely to have anxiety and more than 2.5 times as likely to face depression risk.

The national survey of 2,000 Canadian men, conducted by the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation (CMHF) and Intensions Consulting, found:

• 1 in 6 Canadian men are at high risk for gambling related harm
• Young men aged 19-29 are by far the most vulnerable – 35% fall into the high-risk category, more than double the national average
• 29% of fathers fall into the high-risk category — compared to 17% of men overall 
• Higher income and education are actually protective – men earning $120K+ or holding a degree are significantly less likely to be high risk
• Nearly twice as likely to have moderate-to-high anxiety (53% vs. 28% for low-risk gamblers)
• More than 2.5x as likely to have moderate-to-severe depression risk (43% vs.17% for low-risk gamblers)

Study Resources

About the Study

The Intensions Consulting study was conducted in Canada between April 8 and 14, 2026. The sample was stratified to ensure its composition reflected the underlying distribution of the population as determined by 2021 Census data. The online survey was administered in French and English and used validated measures, including the Consumption Screen of Problem Gambling (CSPG), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS). A traditional probability sample of comparable size would have produced results considered accurate to within plus or minus 2.2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.