Data from a new study shows that approx 32.000 young people aged between 15 and 17 have gambled online in the last year. More and more young people are also using computer game skins as a bet in money games.
In Denmark, the age limit for online gambling is 18 years. Nonetheless, data from a new survey by the Danish Gambling Authority on the gambling habits of Danes shows that 15% of young people aged between 15 and 17 have gambled on the Internet in the last year. This corresponds to approximately 32.000 young people.
Percentage of Danes who played for money online in the last year by age group
Young people may, for example, have played on sites without a Danish license, where there is not necessarily verification of the player's age. The Danish Gambling Authority has a strong focus on illegal gambling sites and since 2012 has blocked 276 sites that illegally offered gambling aimed at Denmark. Website blocking is an important tool in the Danish Authority's work to ensure that gaming is conducted fairly and responsibly.
Young people play with computer game skins
In the survey, gamblers aged between 15 and 17 were asked what types of gambling they played in the past year. Sixty-eight percent of young gamblers bet on sports and other events, and 68 percent gambled in casinos.
Another very popular type of gambling, especially among young people, is skin betting. Thus, 35% of young players have bet on websites offering skin betting. A skin is a virtual item that can be purchased or earned in many computer games. For example, it can be a decoration for weapons or a character in a computer game. Skin betting is therefore different types of money games, both betting, casino games and lotteries, which have in common that the deposit and/or winnings are a skin. There are no Danish licensed gambling providers offering skin betting. Such betting can therefore only take place on the illegal gambling market.
Proportion of players aged 15-17 who played various types of online gambling in the last year
Source: Data was collected and enumerated by population by DST Survey, Statistics Denmark for the Danish Gambling Authority of Denmark.
Young players turn to StopSpillet
StopSpil is a helpline operated by the Danish Gambling Authority, where players, relatives and professionals can call or chat for advice and guidance on responsible gambling and gambling addiction. Half of the players who applied for StopSpillet indicated that they made their gaming debut before the age of 18. Additionally, 4% of players who contacted were under 18 years old. The StopSpillet investigations therefore show that young people already at an early age risk developing a problematic relationship with gambling.
Study on the gambling habits of Danes
The data reported in this publication comes from an important study on the gambling habits of Danes. The results are based on a questionnaire with data collected by DST Survey, Statistics Denmark for the Danish Gambling Authority of Denmark. The questionnaire was sent to a randomly selected sample of Danes aged 15 years and older. The responses were collected online between November 24, 2022 and January 15, 2023. The responses are weighted according to several background information about the respondents, which ensures that the results are representative of the Danish population.
