Published on 29 January, the study looks at the relationship between young people and gambling in Sweden. It focuses on individuals within the 18-24 age group and the results were presented to the government.
The results showed a link between those who started purchasing loot boxes as a minor and those who went on to show problematic gambling behaviours. Of those that purchased loot boxes before the age of 15, 87% displayed risky gambling behaviours as an adult.
Loot boxes and skin gambling on the rise
Among the stand-out findings was the increasing crossover between video games and online gambling. Loot boxes offer players the chance to purchase in-game items via a mystery box, while skin gambling using virtual goods, like player skins, to gamble.
Of all male young adults who took part in the survey, each had experienced these features before turning 18. Some 45% of all respondents aged 18-24 had purchased a loot box, with 62% under the age of 18 when they did. Some players, the survey flagged, were as young as 12 when they made their purchase.
There was also a link between this activity and gambling when older. Among those aged 16-17 who purchased loot boxes but did not gamble for money, most intended to gamble for money when reaching the legal age of 18.
As for skin gambling, this was a common occurrence among young men who had gambled in the past 12 months. There was, however, a far lower rate of play and understanding among female respondents.
The study also raised concerns over affordability. Some 57% said they played for more than they could afford when it came to skin gambling.
Increase in underage gambling
In addition to the core 18-24 age group, the report also looked at the activity of under age players, including those between the ages of 15 and 17.
There was an apparent rise in online gambling among both males and females in this age group, although males were much more likely to have gambled via video games.
Of those who bought their first loot box before the age of 18, 62% had also gambled online for money as a minor.
Notably, the proportion of males aged 14 showing signs of risky gambling behaviours has risen from 5% in 2021 to 9% in 2025, the report found.
While high school-aged males showing these behaviours had increased from 7% to 14%. For females, the proportion remained stable during the same period.
The most common gambling type among minors was online casinos. It was also noted that these minors had accounts with both licensed and unlicensed sites in Sweden.
Young people face daily exposure to gambling advertising
In terms of gambling advertising, young adults highlighted how they encounter gambling marketing on a daily basis. This can be across traditional means such as radio and television, as well as on social media platforms including TikTok and YouTube.
“I’m very interested in sports and listen to a lot of podcasts and stuff and it’s almost only the gambling companies that market themselves,” one surveyed youth said. “They throw in the idea that you can contact the helpline if you have a problem. But it’s mostly romanticised by gambling.”
The report also highlighted the rise in prevalence of online casino streaming. Here, users are able to watch other people gambling via a live online stream. More than half of all young adults surveyed said they had viewed this content before.
How are youngsters funding gambling?
There was also insight into how minors and young people source funds to gamble. For the 18-24 age group, wages and student loans were the main source of their funds.
However, there were some incidences of people in this group accessing funds via other, more concerning routes. These include quick loans and high-cost credit, private loans and undisclosed “criminal acts”.
As for minors, student loans were the most common form of financing. The amount bet by this age group was mainly SEK100 (£7.23/ $8.90) or below, but there was also a higher number of instances of minors spending SEK500 or more, compared to the previous study in 2021 Again, this was much more common among males than females.
What was also apparent was a rise in younger players seeking support over their gambling habits. This includes the number of young adults signing up for the Swedish national self-exclusion scheme, Spelpaus.
According to Spelpaus data, more than 25,000 of over 117,000 users who have self-excluded were aged 18-24 in October 2024. This is approximately 21% of total registrants, up from 17% in the same month in 2022.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/sustainable-gambling/responsible-gambling/swedish-increase-young-people-gambling/
