Gambling to public health in ageing populations : a life expectancy evaluation perspective

Abstract

Objective: Gambling is a complex topic in relation to health systems. It is always unclear how to strike a balance between the gambling economy and the impact of gambling on public health or social wellbeing at any age. There are limited studies considering the association between determinants of gambling and the life expectancy of the ageing population in a country. From an evaluation perspective, this article aims to demonstrate the correlation between life expectancy and gambling and public health systems. Methods: The approach of analysis has two parts. One is the influence of gambling prevalence in populations on life expectancy among old adults. Another is the association between the effect of changes in legal gambling provisions within public health systems and life expectancy among old adults. Healthy adjusted life expectancy at age 60 from the World Health Organization and gross gambling yield were used. ANOVA was performed with SPSS. Results: The population groups with HALE at age 60 of 15 years or over are likely more active in gambling than the population groups with smaller HALE at age 60 of 14 years or less. On the other hand, the influence of a health policy may be sidelined when it is implemented for older adult populations because the resource distribution magnitude or number of strategical techniques may not be the same for younger adult populations. The study here is marked as a good practical start, and there is room for further research with big data analysis on additional gambling variables against other life expectancy variables, quality of life variables or public health system variables. Conclusion: Associations between the determinants of gambling and the life expectancy of the ageing population in a country have not yet been identified. Continuous measurements of policy implementation and effectiveness and assessments of health equity, while gambling policies worldwide continue to change, have not yet been performed. Researchers and policy makers should understand the importance of holistic integration of the gambling economy and policy within a public health and social paradigm with the help of big data insights to achieve sustainability in their cities and health equity in their communities.