The Belgian Gaming Commission recently released the latest survey results on young people's gambling behavior, showing that 84% of young people aged 18 to 30 choose to bet on legal gambling sites, but 28% still admit to having used illegal platforms.
The study, conducted by DataSynergy in 2025, covered 1,000 respondents. The survey found that although legal operators dominate in terms of popularity and usage, three of the top ten gambling sites most familiar to young people are unlicensed platforms. This phenomenon indicates that illegal gambling brands still have some influence among the youth.
The survey also pointed out that 94% of respondents could accurately identify at least one legal gambling site, while only 61% could name an illegal platform. Moreover, online gambling is significantly more popular than offline, with only 37% of respondents having visited a physical gambling location, while 48% have gambled online.
In terms of frequency, occasional participation in gambling is the most common behavior pattern: 30% of people say they bet occasionally, 23% gamble once or several times a week, and another 10% participate in gambling almost daily.
In choosing gambling platforms, social relationships play a key role. 32% of respondents said they chose a platform based on a friend's recommendation. In contrast, the proportions influenced by social media advertisements (15%) or sports sponsorships (12%) are lower.
This report comes as several countries around the world are intensifying regulations on young people's gambling behavior. Recently, the National Football League (NFL) in the United States donated $600,000 to the International Center for Responsible Gaming to study college students' gambling habits and develop educational resources for parents and educators.
The Belgian Gaming Commission stated that this survey is another important initiative following a similar study in 2023, aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the gambling trends of the younger generation and providing a basis for more targeted regulatory policies and public advocacy in the future, especially in curbing the spread of illegal gambling platforms.
