Approximately 1.3 million adults in Germany suffer from a gambling disorder and a further 3.3 million show initial signs of gambling addiction, according to a new report presented by the country’s Federal Drugs Commissioner Burkhard Blienert on Monday.

According to “The Gambling Atlas,” which draws on data compiled in 2021, 30% of German adults gamble. The figure represents a reduction on the 55% calculated in 2007, but the report nevertheless found that 7.7% of adults suffer financial, social or health problems associated with addition.

“Gambling rarely makes participants happy,” said Commissioner Blienert on Monday, presenting the report in Berlin.

“Gambling is a disease,” added Christina Rummel of the German Center for Addiction Issues (DHS).