Gaza War Has Increased Problem Gambling Among Israelis, Hebrew University Reports
Posted on: September 29, 2025, 01:35h.
Last updated on: September 29, 2025, 03:52h.
- The Gaza War has led to gambling problems among some Israeli men
- Gambling is a form of entertainment that some use to distract their mind
- Gambling, however, can lead to societal addiction
The ongoing Gaza War has led to more gambling problems in Israel, a new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem finds.
The Gaza War, ignited by Hamas and Palestinian militant groups launching a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has run for nearly two years. There have been more than 90K estimated fatalities during the two-year conflict, with most of the loss of life coming on the Hamas and Palestinian allies’ side, including tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians.
More than 2,000 Israelis have also been killed, including more than 1,000 civilians. The perpetual war has also led to many emotional and mental distresses in Israel, with one being higher instances of problem gambling. That’s according to recent research from the Israel Center for Addiction and Mental Health (ICAMH) at Hebrew University.
Two years after October 7, its psychological impact continues to surface in unexpected ways. A new study reveals that Israeli men with difficulties regulating their emotions were more likely to develop gambling problems in the months following the attacks and ensuing war,” a summary read for the university study titled, “The Hidden Costs of October 7: Trauma’s Link to Gambling Problems.”
“The findings highlight how collective trauma reverberates not only in memory, but also in private struggles for coping and survival,” the researchers added.
Gambling Problems Increase
ICAMH Prof. Mario Mikulincer and Experimental Research Head Dr. Uri Lifshin led the study into how October 7 has impacted Israeli people regarding gambling. They garnered alarming data from respondents recruited to establish a “demographically diverse” group to match the “prevalence of gender, age, religiosity, education, and area of residence in the adult Jewish population in Israel.”
The group was surveyed four times — in April 2022, December 2023, March 2024, and June 2024. The respondents completed more than 12,100 surveys.
Their answers, the Hebrew University research team said, highlighted a rise in gambling problems among Israeli men that was exacerbated by Oct. 7.
For many, gambling became a way to cope with fear, grief, and the unrelenting uncertainty of war. We found that men who already struggled with emotion regulation were more vulnerable,” said Mikulincer. “The trauma of October 7 intensified that risk, pushing some toward gambling as a way to escape.”
Most forms of online gambling are illegal in Israel, though there are state-run online sports betting opportunities. Many offshore casino websites allow their internet games to be accessed within Israel.
The Hebrew University researchers said many Israelis sought private acts of coping, such as online gambling, to distract their minds. But some private coping mechanisms, such as gambling, can “quietly spiral into harm.”
“Gambling, often seen as entertainment, became — especially for some men — a maladaptive outlet for processing trauma,” the report explained.
War Consequences
The Gaza War has forever changed the region, with the scale and pace of destruction in Gaza unrivaled. Another consequence of the war is that some Israelis have permanent emotional traumas, which have led to severe gambling problems.
“As Israel marks the second anniversary of October 7, the study underscores how deeply the attack continues to shape daily life. It serves as a reminder that the war’s legacy is not only written in loss and memory, but also in the hidden struggles of those still searching for ways to manage their pain,” the Hebrew University study concluded.
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