Global Awareness on Youth Gambling and Incentives to Reduce Harm
While the world is mostly becoming more open towards betting there is concern in numerous countries about rising youth gambling, and incentives that drive this behaviour. This does not appear limited to newly liberalised betting marketplaces, like the USA, but is occurring in more mature gambling nations such as the UK as well.
Moves by regulators is one possible response, as has already happened in Denmark with its gambling awareness campaign. But if the situation persists then political action may ensue as well. Technology may also be a way to reduce potential harms for the young, and enhanced player safety is the hope of the recently announced BetComply and Mindway AI partnership.
UK's Gamstop Reports Rapid Rise in Young People Registering
The latest annual report from Gamstop has revealed that around 1% of the United Kingdom's (adult) population has registered with the organisation's self-exclusion tools since it started work in 2018. The total number is some 560,000, which outgoing chair Jenny Watson noted was indicative of the significant progress that Gamstop had made.
Watson has been the chair of the organisation since 2018 and will be replaced in the second half of 2025. In addition, the annual report included information from an independent study by Ipsos in 2024 which revealed three-quarters of those who register with Gamstop go on to stop gambling. Worryingly, younger people are registering rapidly, with a 31% year-on-year increase in under-25s in the second half of 2024.
Denmark Launches Gambling Awareness Campaign for the Young
Increasing gambling problems among the younger generation of adults is not an exclusive problem for the United Kingdom. On the other side of the North Sea, the Danish Gambling Authority is seeking to raise awareness of the risks of problem gambling, especially among young men. The Danish regulator has released a 30 second promotional video clip which is intended to be lighthearted and fun, while at the same time conveying this serious message.
The aim is to help 18-24 year olds in particular to 'play smart', and the intention is not to stop young adults from betting but to encourage them to do so in a sensible rather than reckless manner. It forms the latest part in the Danish Gambling Authority's ongoing advertising campaign, combining both digital and physical ads, to encourage responsible gambling.
Consumer protection is notably high in Denmark, as 91.5% of gamblers in the country are betting at sites licensed online casinos. This is higher than most other jurisdictions, but still means nearly 10% are betting at sites that lack Danish licensing.
8.3% of Connecticut Undergraduates may Suffer Problem Gambling
Across the Pond in the United States of America there are also concerns about the large proportion of young adults engaging in betting. Sports and casino betting has been gaining ground in the USA in recent years, with Connecticut legalising sports betting in 2021. A recent research survey by two UConn professors found that 72% of the state's undergraduates reported gambling in the last year. The survey involved 1,300 students at 30 higher education institutions in Connecticut.
There's also a substantial divergence between the proportion diagnosed with or getting help for problem gambling (1%) and players who meet the standard definition for problem gambling (8.3%). Players reporting a moderate problem with gambling came to 17.2%, around one in six.
Eleni Rodis, Managing Director of the Research Division at the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, expressed surprise at the extent of the betting she found. But, as she explained, betting nowadays is not just casinos and the lottery, it's fantasy sports, crypto trading, novelty markets, and more.
Wendy Ulaszek, UConn School of Social Work Associate Research Professor, explained that many states lacked similar data. Ulaszek added that Rhode Island researchers had contacted her about the possibility of conducting a similar survey in the Ocean State.
Mindway AI and BetComply Form Partnership for Safer Gambling
Gambling software company Mindway AI has formed a partnership with technical and regulatory compliance firm BetComply. This new partnership has been forged with the intention of creating superior products and supporting larger numbers of operators.
Jez White, BetComply's Safer Gambling & Sustainability Specialist, will (along with his team) advise Mindway AI regarding the incorporation of the firm's products with operators' safer gambling functions. BetComply is also to support Mindway AI's product roadmap and new business opportunities.
Particular attention will be paid to GameScanner, which is an advanced software solution designed to help operators enhance protection for players. This includes early intervention to prevent risky gambling behaviour.
White described Mindway AI as being at the cutting edge of safer gambling technology, adding that BetComply's goal was to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation. He singled out GameScanner as a way operators can deliver more effective and proactive protection for players.
Rasmus Kjaergaard, chief executive officer of Mindway AI, described the firm as being thrilled to work with BetComply, and stated that the vast operational experience of Jez White and his team was a huge asset.
Calls for Quebec to Abandon Monopoly Model to Improve Responsible Gambling
Canada regulates gambling on a provincial basis, and the monopoly approach taken by Quebec is being cited as one reason for a significant rise in youth gambling. Unlike Ontario, which has created the country's first domestic private online betting marketplace, Quebec has just one legal online gambling site (run by Loto-Québec).
However, the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition's Ariane Gauthier has asserted that the current arrangement has not prevented either the growth of unregulated sites or the rise in numbers of underage kids betting. Gauthier added that Quebec needed an approach akin to Ontario's regulated and competitive system. The Coalition, which started in 2023, is a group of private operators.
Ontario's approach means more choice for players, but also that licensed operators are required to follow responsible gambling regulations. Among these are checking the ages of players through strict KYC protocols. AGCO licensed online casinos in Ontario ensure youth gambling is not permitted.
Another downside of Quebec's monopoly approach is that it loses to unregulated sites, according to figures from the Canadian Gaming Summit, CAD$1.97bn in gross gaming revenue annually.
If Technology & Regulation Fail then Political Action could Follow
Betting has always carried a degree of risk, as do many other activities from driving a car to exercising. However, the entirely discretionary nature of betting means that action to combat problem gambling among the young is likely to be swifter and more severe than for activities which are economically/socially essential.
Gamstop has seen a startling rise in young British gamblers contacting them, but it is encouraging that the organisation has a 75% success rate of helping players stop betting. But if interventions such as that of the Danish Gambling Authority or technological approaches to enable early detection and action against problem gambling prove insufficient then political steps may follow.
Responsible gambling no matter what age you are is important. Our dedicated responsible gambling page, here at Top10Casinos.com, contains information on how to use the different tools available, blocking apps, self assessment questions, and more.
