Mr Viral
The Swedish Gambling Authority (Spelinspektionen) has published a new report on youth gambling, reporting an increase in the percentage of younger citizens playing real-money games of chance. As it turns out, young men are at an especially high risk of gambling harm.
Newer Gaming Verticals Have Engaged Younger Players
The findings, outlined in the 2024 appropriation bill, show that a rising number of minors and young adults (aged 18-24) are engaging in gambling. The Swedish gambling regulator was firm that both minors and young adults are becoming more interested in games of chance – a trend that is especially prevalent among male players.
The report examined a variety of factors behind this increase, including how younger players can afford to gamble and how it affects them.
The Spelinspektionen concluded that the growth of video gaming and the proliferation of lottery-like elements, such as loot boxes, serve as a gateway to real-money gambling. Skin gambling, another controversial gaming format, has also been very popular among Counter-Strike players, further normalizing gambling to younger people.
Skin gambling for context, is a form of gambling where participants use rare and oftentimes expensive in-game cosmetics to play games of chance. Winners can win rare skins, which could cost thousands of dollars.
While most markets treat skin gambling as unlicensed gambling, such products have nevertheless grown in popularity among the new generation of bettors.
The Internet Has Exacerbated the Issue
The Spelinspektionen cited the popularity of gambling streams as an additional reason for the growth of underage and youth gambling. Many gambling content creators have attracted huge audiences. On the other hand, some well-established streamers have slowly made their way into gambling, adding gambling streams to their content portfolio.
The intense marketing efforts of gambling companies haven’t helped either, providing younger people with further exposure to gambling.
The unparalleled accessibility of online platforms and black market operators’ lax or non-existent ID checks have made it increasingly easy for minors to play, highlighting a concerning trend.
Students Gamble with Their Loans
The Swedish regulator said that most young adults fuel their gambling with their student loans or wages. In some cases, young adults have even taken high-cost loans in order to gamble. According to the Spelinspektionen, this is most common among men aged 23 and 24 who often have weak control over their gambling habits.
Overall, the Spelinspektionen concluded that problem gambling has been on the rise among underage boys since 2019. Interestingly, it has remained unchanged among underage girls. In the meantime, reliable data about the exact number of young adults experiencing problems has been elusive. What’s certain though, is that a rapidly growing number of people under 25 have reached out to gambling treatment services.
The Spelinspektionen has sent the results of its survey to the government. It noted that the report includes underage gambling data from the Central Association for Alcohol and Drug Information (CAN).
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