The prevalence of loot boxes and skin gambling in video games is contributing to an increasing interest from young Swedish adults in gambling, according to a report.
The gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, said there are “indications” that young adults, especially young men, are becoming more interested in gambling.
As well as gambling elements in video games, the report said marketing via social media, influencers and casino streamers is “also driving interest.”
The report focused on people aged between 18 and 24 but Spelinspektionen said underage gambling, “particularly among boys in ninth grade and the second year of upper secondary school,” has increased since 2019.
“Findings suggest that discussions about gambling in schools create curiosity about gambling and that gambling for money even occurs during school hours.
“This is problematic, as gambling during school or work hours increases the risk of developing excessive gambling habits.”
Young adults are primarily financing their gambling through wages or student loans, the report found.
Among men, the proportion of those taking out high-cost loans “increases significantly at ages 23–24 compared to younger men aged 18–22,” the regulator added.
“At the same time, an increasing number of people under the age of 25 are seeking help for problem gambling, a trend that support organisations have noticed over the past two years.”
