UK survey explores health implications of gambling

The survey by Jackpot.co.uk found that slots players are the least healthy. They take less exercise and have an average BMI of 31, pushing them into the category of obese, which is linked to reduced life expectancy and an increased chance of developing illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes.

Sam Marsden, editor of Jackpot.co.uk, said: "There's an undeniable link connecting passive games like slots and video poker to unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles. On the other hand, games that require concentration, strategy and some physical stamina like poker and blackjack seem to fare much better in the health stakes. It seems it's less a case of 'you are what you eat' and more 'you are what you play.'"

Roulette, blackjack, video poker and craps/dice players are not far behind slots players, each having BMI levels higher than the national average. However, poker, baccarat and pai gow players, have an average BMI of 25 or under - well within the normal range recommended by the World Health Organization.

While drinking levels might be reasonably high among poker players, they are very exercise conscious, with 58 percent engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes, five times a week. For slots players the figure was just 27 percent meeting this government recommended target.

Overall slots players drink the most, with 24.1 percent drinking over the recommended weekly limit. Although on this measure, poker players are not far behind on 23 percent. Female slots players were the biggest drinking subgroup, closely followed by male poker players.

Slots players also smoke more, with 24 percent being regular smokers, against a U.K. national average of 20 percent. Blackjack and roulette players smoke slightly more than average, on 21 and 22 percent, respectively, while poker players smoke slightly less than average, on 19.5 percent.

Professor Anthony Barnett, University of Birmingham and Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, commented: "The biggest driver for the worldwide epidemic of Type 2 Diabetes is overweight/obesity coupled with a sedentary lifestyle. In the U.K., obesity rates have quadrupled in a single generation. Any change in behaviour that encourages more physical activity and leads to a reduction in BMI has to be a positive thing."

The most common platform on which to play casino games was the desktop computer at 65 percent, with just over 20 percent playing on mobiles and tablets and only 14 percent going to actual casinos. However, desktop use was linked to higher levels of obesity, drinking and smoking. It is thought that, as the use of mobile devices continues to increase, health levels could improve among gamblers as a group.

Fifty-eight percent of the respondents were male and 42 percent were female. A total of 2131 gamblers were surveyed.