Minor gamblers in many various types of gambling

2009-11-24

Almost one boy in five and more than one girl out of ten aged 16-17 have used gambling machines during the last year, despite the age limit of 18 years. Other types of gambling with age limit 18, for example sports and live TV-contests, is also common among the young. This is shown in a new population study on gambling and health in Sweden.

The Swedish National Institute of Public Health presents key findings from the first data collection of a new population study on gambling and health. The study shows that 70 per cent of the population aged 16-84 have gambled during the past year and that 44 per cent gamble on a regular basis (at least every month).

The most common form of gambling is buying lottery tickets, which is something that more than half of both women and men have done. Men gamble more than women in all forms of gambling except live TV-contests and Bingo where men and women gamble to about the same extent. The elderly gamble to a larger extent than younger persons on lotteries, number games (Lotto etc) and horses while the situation is the opposite for casino games, gambling machines, poker and Internet gambling.

2.2 per cent of the population aged 16-84 are problem gamblers and further 5.4 per cent are at risk to develop a gambling problem. Problem gambling is prevalent in all segments of the population and in all forms of gambling, but is unevenly distributed. Most affected are young and middle aged men and men with part time work or sickness benefit/early retirement pension. Among the problem gamblers almost one in seven has severe gambling problems which may require treatment.

– We can see that problem gambling also relates to ill-health, more smoking and a larger extent of risky alcohol consumption compared to persons without gambling problems. This especially accounts for the men in the sample, says Ulla Romild public health officer at the Swedish National Institute of Public Health and responsible for the analyses in the study.

Problem gambling correlates with gambling on various gambling forms. For example Internet gambling, bingo, gambling machines, poker and casino games. The study also shows that in all gambling forms, there is a larger share of problem gamblers among those who have gambled via Internet compared to those who gamble in a physical venue.

– We have really been looking forward to this type of knowledge in order to improve preventive measures and to follow up Swedish gambling policy, says Marie Risbeck, project manager of Problem Gambling Prevention at the Swedish National Institute of Public Health. For example, the study shows the need for improved control of age limits, continued broad information and education measures and that problem gambling treatment will be available for all groups in need.

The study is part of the research program SWELOGS (Swedish longitudinal gambling study) which is conducted and financed by the Swedish National Institute of Public Health. The study sample consists of 15 000 persons aged 16-84. The sample will be iterated several times up to 2014.