Problem gambling costs employers billions in lost productivity, absenteeism, and employee turnover. Here's what it looks like — and what can be done.
Redeemed Editorial
March 19, 2026
The economic cost of gambling disorder is most visible in its financial devastation to individuals — the depleted savings accounts, the maxed credit cards, the bankruptcy filings. Less visible, but equally significant, is the cost to workplaces: the lost productivity, the absenteeism, the distracted employees, the careers derailed or destroyed.
Research on gambling disorder and workplace impact finds:
The mechanisms through which gambling disorder affects work are multiple:
Cognitive preoccupation: Problem gamblers spend significant mental energy thinking about gambling — past bets, future bets, how to access more money. This cognitive load directly reduces the attention available for work tasks.
Financial stress: The financial consequences of gambling create a chronic stress state that impairs concentration, decision-making, and interpersonal functioning at work.
Sleep deprivation: Late-night gambling sessions, combined with financial anxiety, produce chronic sleep deprivation that directly impairs cognitive performance.
Absenteeism: Gambling sessions, particularly during work hours, are a common pattern in gambling disorder. Online gambling has made this easier — employees can gamble from their work computer or phone.
Theft and fraud: In severe cases, gambling disorder can lead to workplace theft, embezzlement, or fraud to fund gambling. This is a legal and career-ending risk that is more common than most people realize.
If gambling is affecting your work, you have options that don't require disclosing your situation to your employer:
Employers who want to address gambling disorder in the workplace can:
Addressing gambling disorder in the workplace is not just a compassionate act — it is a sound business decision.
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