How underage gambling has fast become nationwide epidemic in Sweden

Swedish gambling regulator Spelinspektionen recently published a damning report alluding to a skyrocketing in those under 18, the legal age for gambling in Sweden, placing bets regularly. Data showed that around 35% of those surveyed, between ages of 16 and 17, had gambled in the last year. What is going on? 

Spelinspektionen was commissioned last year to investigate matters regarding the gambling habits of young people in Sweden, which worryingly includes minors, or those under the age of 18, who are gambling illegally. 

The Gambling Authority in Sweden also revealed that there has been a sharp rise in the number of gamblers between the ages of 18 and 24, but also, importantly, in minors.

How is the younger population encouraged to gamble?

The report found that betting companies are developing lottery-like games, and other incentives as a way to attract more punters, but most of these are supposedly specifically directed at young people, with marketing streams, influencers and social media playing a role in higher numbers of illegal betters.

Spelinspektionen presented figures which mean that the number of males under 18 who are actively gambling in Sweden is the highest since records began, which serves as a very scary reality for the younger generation.

Interviews for the survey depicted that gambling was a hot topic in schoolyards, and students would even place bets in the classroom, aiming to hide from the gaze of the teacher. 

Are Instagram and Facebook promoting gambling?

The aggressive marketing strategies of betting organisations is one major problem, as statistics showed that 45% of Instagram gambling posts were available to underage folk to view, as well as 37% of Facebook posts. Something has got to be done, and fast.

Participants also suggested that the betting firms were consistently advertised on their favourite podcasts and YouTube videos, highlighting the urgent need for immediate resolutions before the issue spirals out of control.

Gambling can wreak havoc on lives, as incessant spending causes serious damage to the financial health of an individual, and if the habit spews into an addiction, people can go bankrupt, and lose everything they own and love to making bets, and going to the casino. 

How bad is underage gambling in Sweden?

Spelhaus is the equivalent of self-exclusion in Sweden, and for young folk in the country, more people than ever delved into savings, or took out big loans to fund their betting pursuits.

High interest or ‘payday’ loans were more frequent among those in their mid-20s in Sweden, who found it increasingly hard to keep tabs and control on their gambling problem.

The number of those under 25, including minors, who actually went to actively seek help for their developing problem soared to never before seen numbers in Sweden last year, according to reports. 

The Swedish Gambling Authority is now investigating whether licensees, or betting organisations, are introducing special measures to attract more of those under 25 to start betting. 

Shockingly, it was reported that a whopping 47 out of 67 bookies in Sweden challenge and disrupt current gambling regulations of the Gambling Act for responsible gambling measures. 

The problem becomes more threatening when you realise young Swedes are able to gamble at casinos without an actual license. 

Recent developments have come to worry Swedes, and authorities are seeking to take action. The legal age for gambling may be raised further than the current limit of 18 years old.

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