Alarming Rise in Underage Gambling in Denmark

Spillemyndigheden's research indicates that a significant number of young individuals in Denmark are participating in underage gambling, despite the legal age for gambling being set at 18. Approximately 68% of those in this age group who have gambled did so by placing bets, while 42% engaged in online casino games, 21% played the lottery and scratchcards, and 4% explored other gambling activities.

A notable revelation from the study is that 35% of young people are involved in skin betting on websites. Skin betting is a feature in video games where players can win virtual items such as character outfits and new weapons. However, the catch is that there are currently no licensed websites in Denmark to offer this form of gambling, leading these young players to participate on illegal platforms.

Although the prevalence of underage gambling is a significant concern, it is found to be lower in this age group compared to other age categories, except for the 70-plus group. The 40-49 age group emerges as the most involved, with 30% participating in gambling activities. This is followed by the 18-24 age group at 26%, the 50-59 group at 27%, the 30-39 group at 24%, the 25-29 group at 22%, and the 60-69 group at 19%.

The study has also unveiled a worrying trend of young people reaching out to gambling harm organizations. According to the research, 4% of all calls made to StopSpillet, the specialist gambling helpline run by Spillemyndigheden, came from players under the age of 18. This indicates that individuals are already at risk of developing gambling-related issues at a young age.

These figures serve as a stark warning regarding the prevalence of underage gambling in Denmark. Earlier data from StopSpillet revealed that 88% of callers had placed their first bet before turning 18. Furthermore, it was found that individuals who experience problem gambling behavior typically do so for approximately two years and seven months before seeking help from StopSpillet.

Relatives of problem gamblers play a substantial role in seeking assistance, with 39% of all calls to StopSpillet coming from them. Among these calls, half were from parents of players, while 17% were from partners and 17% from siblings.