Whether it's Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound, among others, weight loss medications are undeniably popular, and the market is projected to keep growing in the upcoming years, but greater usage of these drugs may impact the gaming sector. 

Weight loss medications, referred to as GLP-1 inhibitors, combat a feeling that casinos and sportsbooks have historically capitalized on: impulse. In other terms, injectable drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Zepbound reduce impulsive actions in individuals. Certain experts think that might lower spending on gaming in the long run.

"The drugs have the potential to promote greater impulse control, and effectively train users to be more moderate in consumption patterns and behaviors,” said Scott Steinberg, a business futurist and trends expert, in comments supplied to Casino.org.

GLP-1s remain a fairly new category of medications, and Steinberg recognizes that comprehensive research on the drugs' effects on impulse control is not yet complete; however, it’s possible that, with time, these medications may decrease users' compulsions. This might result in decreased spending online, including within iGaming communities. 

GLP-1s Won’t Destroy iGaming, But There May Be Benefits 

GLP-1s, encompassing weight loss medications and others, are categorized as receptor agonists. Without delving into medical terminology, this indicates that those medications can affect the brain’s risk and reward areas. 

For weight loss, a product such as Ozempic or Wegovy can subtly influence the risk/reward center in the brain of a user to decrease cravings or impulsive eating of food. The effects of this on betting have not been thoroughly examined so far; however, it is probable that GLP-1 users visiting a casino or participating in iGaming would be less susceptible to the mindset of “one more hand” or “one more spin.” 

That doesn't imply that weight loss medications will harm the gaming industry. They will not. iGaming is undergoing swift expansion, which is occurring alongside a rise in GLP-1 utilization. What may happen is that GLP-1 users who are gamblers could gain greater control over their impulses, possibly leading to a situation where they lose less money per session while evolving into disciplined long-term bettors. 

“A tamping down of appetites and greater ability to engage in impulse control may lead to more deliberate and less frequent betting,” adds Steinberg. “Which isn’t to say that that you’ll suddenly see a major drop in gambling or real/online world casino activity overnight. Rather, that as more end users become better able to self-regulate and control their habits, that impulse or small buys may decline over time.”

GLP-1s Noted Again as a Challenge for Gaming 

Steinberg’s remarks regarding the possible lasting effects on the gaming industry due to increasing GLP-1 usage are valid since it’s a topic that has been addressed previously, albeit infrequently. 

In 2023, Bank of America emphasized various sectors, such as gaming, that might be influenced by increases in weight loss medication usage. Analyst Shaun Kelley estimated that 10% to 30% of gaming industry income comes from bettors with problematic gambling habits, and a considerable number of them are overweight. 

He mentioned that this could generate a revenue challenge of as much as 4% for the sector, with local casinos potentially more susceptible to rising GLP-1 usage compared to gaming locations in tourist markets such as Las Vegas.