TY  - JOUR
AU  - Siste, Kristiana
AU  - King, Daniel L
AU  - Hanafi, Enjeline
AU  - Sen, Lee Thung
AU  - Adrian, Adrian
AU  - Murtani, Belinda Julivia
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/1/15
TI  - Scrutinizing the Gateway Relationship Between Gaming and Gambling Disorder: Scoping Review With a Focus on the Southeast Asian Region
JO  - JMIR Serious Games
SP  - e59740
VL  - 13
KW  - behavioral addiction
KW  - convergence
KW  - gateway effect
KW  - gambling advertisement
KW  - gamblification
KW  - monetized gaming
AB  - Background: The gaming and gambling overlap has intensified with new evidence emerging. However, the relationship between gaming and gambling in the digital space is still inconclusive, especially in resource-limited Asian countries. Objective: This study aims to review available evidence on the possible interaction and focuses specifically on the gateway interaction between gambling and gaming. Additionally, this review delves into the state of evidence from the Southeast Asian region, providing an in-depth analysis of this underexplored area. Methods: We performed a scoping review by sifting through the publications in five databases. We focused on the gateway interaction and provided a possible pathway model, while two other convergence relationships were provided for comparison. Results: The scoping review identified a total of 289 publications, with the majority being empirical (n=181), although only 12 studies used longitudinal designs. A significant proportion of the publications (n=152) concentrated on the correlation or comorbidity between gaming and gambling. Most of the evidence has originated from Global North countries, with very limited research emerging from Southeast Asia (n=8). The most commonly studied gambling-like element in video games was loot boxes (n=105). Other elements investigated included esports betting, skin betting, token wagering, gambling advertisements, and gambling-like features. Several longitudinal studies have highlighted the risk of the gateway effect associated with gamblification involvement. However, emerging evidence suggests more nuanced underlying mechanisms that drive the transition from gaming to gambling. Conclusions: Overall, there is early evidence of linkage between gambling and gaming, through shared structural and biopsychosocial characteristics. This association possibly extends beyond disparate comorbidity, as such engagement in one activity might influence the risk of partaking in the other behavior. The field requires further longitudinal data to determine the directionality and significant precipitating factors of the gateway effect, particularly evidence from Asia. 
SN  - 2291-9279
UR  - https://games.jmir.org/2025/1/e59740
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/59740
DO  - 10.2196/59740
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/59740
ER  -