The Spelinspektionen, the official Swedish gambling authority, has released a comprehensive report which shows that gambling among the youth in Sweden is concerningly growing by the day.
The report by the Spelinspektionen is a product of the 2024 assignment that stems from the appropriation bill which requested the authority to examine the factors behind this alarming trend and explore how the youth is able to finance its gambling.
More specifically, the report focused mainly on young adults aged between 18 and 24, and it also included in-depth data from the Central Association for Alcohol and Drug Information (CAN) specifically for underage gambling.
As per the details of the study, gambling among minors in Sweden is also on the rise, with young men showing especially strong interest in gambling activities. One of the biggest factors in this trend is the strong market for video games that incorporate mechanics similar to the lottery, and this includes both skin gambling and loot boxes.
On top of this, the report shows that even interactive platforms contribute to fueling the interest in gambling among young people, with casino streaming, influencer promotions, and social media marketing among the biggest culprits.
Moreover, the report also reveals how young adults in Sweden actually finance their gambling activities.
Some of the most common reasons are student loans, paychecks, and even high-cost gambling loans, particularly when it comes to men aged 22-24, and even adults who are generally struggling with gambling control.
In a separate statement, the Spelinspektionen has expressed concerns about a data breach within the self-exclusion center in Sweden, Spelpaus. Namely, some users have reported receiving ads from illegal operators even though they were registered with the program, something that the Swedish gambling authority said it plans to investigate thoroughly.
