The rise of online betting has led the commercial gambling industry to grow worldwide, posing a threat to public health, according to a report from an international commission of health experts.

The worldwide rise of online gambling poses a significant public health threat, according to a report released Thursday. The report, which was published in the Lancet Public Health journal, found that almost 16 percent of adults and more than 26 percent of adolescents who use slot machine games and online casinos have a gambling disorder.

Gambling disorder, or addiction, has been widely studied for decades. But cell phones make access to gambling around the globe easier, experts warn.