New Study Shows Spike in Underage Gambling in Sweden
Swedish gambling authority, Spelinspektionen, has released a new report revealing a rise in gambling among young people.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The report, which presents the key findings from the regulator's investigation into youth gambling in 2024, noted that there has been an increase in gambling among 18-to-24-year-olds, and disturbingly, minors under 18.
In 2021, the Swedish Public Health Agency published a study showing that 34% of 16- to 17-year-olds had gambled in the past year, up from 20% in 2015. The increase in gambling was largely driven by young male students, while the percentage of female students remained unchanged.
However, the latest figures from Spelinspektionen show that the number of underage males engaging in gambling has reached an all-time high, with a smaller but still notable increase in female participation since 2019.
Pressures and Influences Drive Youth Gambling
Additionally, the report investigates the underlying causes of rising youth gambling and explores its connections to the evolving gaming landscape. It identifies lottery-style games, influencer marketing, and streaming as key factors introducing young people to gambling.
Interviews with students uncovered a surprising normalcy of gambling in schools, with many admitting to betting on football matches during recess or secretly gambling in class.
Furthermore, the need to fit in and pressure from peers also influence young people to engage in gambling. A 25-year-old participant recalled that he started gambling in high school.
“Back then it was kind of a thing that when everyone turned 18 they started betting and that’s when I played. Football matches, and there was a lot of talk about it at school. People discussed it and then people got hung up on it. Be part of the community.” He stated.
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Minors’ Exposure to Gambling Marketing
The study also reveals that gambling companies' marketing strategies are exposing younger audiences to a range of gambling products. A recent study found that minors were exposed to 45% of Instagram gambling posts and 37% on Facebook.
The majority of young people finance their gambling habits using their salaries, student loans, and study funds, which is not surprising given that these are the primary sources of income for most individuals in this age group.
Among individuals enrolled in 'Spelpaus,' Sweden's self-exclusion program, there was a significant surge in the number of young people dipping into their savings or securing loans to fund their gambling habits.
A higher incidence of high-interest lending, including 'pay-day loans,' was observed among men aged 23-24 who reported difficulties in managing their gambling behavior.
Licensees’ Commitment to Responsible Gambling
In response to rising gambling rates among young people, the regulator conducted an investigation into licensees' implementation of special measures for players under 25. It found that 47 out of 67 licensees exceeded the minimum responsible gambling requirements set by the Gambling Act.
Additionally, operators are also taking other proactive steps under the Spelinspektionen's framwork, such as setting lower deposit limits, limiting direct marketing, and and even higher gambling age limits than the legally mandated 18 years.
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