Spel om pengar bland unga, 750 kB - Statens folkhälsoinstitut

Summary
The Swedish National Institute of Public Health (SNIPH) was commissioned by the Swedish
Government in 2001 (Government communication. S2001/9487/FH) to draw up a proposal for a plan
of action to combat pathological gambling in Sweden. This review, the aim of which is to systematise
the scientific literature on the subject of young people who gamble for money, constitutes a basis for
the development of the measures relating to young people in the plan of action. The literature reviewed
is made up of scientific articles published in international journals, a small number of unpublished
reports and a few presentations made at conferences. Furthermore, knowledge acquired from study
visits to research centres and treatment clinics for young gambling addicts is also included.
Studies from the western world show that gambling for money is common among young people,
although less common than it is among adults. For young people, the chance of winning and the risk
of losing money is a key motivation factor in whether they choose to gamble or not. Another factor is
that gambling is seen as exciting, fun, pleasurable and as a way of passing the time. Young people can
find it difficult to differentiate between and understand the concepts of luck, fate, chance and probability
and they are also used to playing TV and computer games, which makes them vulnerable gambling
consumers. Having problems with gambling is common among young people. In North America, the
prevalence of gambling problems or pathological gambling among young people is estimated to be
about 10–14 per cent, which tallies with studies from Australia and Europe. In Sweden, the proportion
of young people with a gambling problem or pathological gambling was estimated at about five
per cent in 1999, compared to two per cent among adults. Despite young people gambling less than
adults, they are more likely to have problems with the habit.
A review of the studies shows that young people who have a problem with their gambling often
have other problems, commonly depression and anxiety disorders, criminality and abuse of alcohol
and/or drugs. The studies also indicate that the risk factors, i.e. the factors that can increase the risk of
problematic gambling among young people, are: displaying impulsive behaviour to boys during their
childhood and adolescence; having friends who gamble; having friends with gambling problems/
pathological gambling; parents introducing their children to gambling and; parents themselves gambling
a lot, especially if they do it together with their children. The risk of developing gambling problems
seems to be higher for boys. There is, on the other hand, a lack of studies on girls and gambling problems.
The relationship between different problem behaviours, criminality, abuse and pathological
gambling is still unclear, since there is a lack of research on the subject. In addition, there is almost a
total lack of studies where young people with gambling problems have been studied for several years,
and we therefore don’t know how young people with these problems develop over time.
There is as yet very limited research on the prevention, including treatment, of pathological gambling
among young people. Some of the literature reviewed proposes that prevention should be based on
well-known principles relating to the prevention of other high-risk behaviours in order to alleviate
gambling problems among young people. Based on studies of gambling among young people and
knowledge acquired from study visits to treatment clinics, we can also draw certain conclusions as
regards treatment principles. We can conclude, for example, that information to young people and
parents about gambling and associated problems is necessary, that young people with pathological
gambling often have other problems which must be treated in parallel; and that motivation-enhancing
elements of treatment are important.
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