Gambling behaviour among adolescents in Iceland: Findings from the ESPADsurvey 2024

Abstract

In recent years, notable changes have occurred in gambling practices in Iceland. Betting on the results of sports games has become prominent – a form of gambling increasingly marketed to young people. This study draws on data from the European Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), administered every four years to students in the 10th grade in compulsory school. The aim was to compare the prevalence of gambling behaviour in the 2015 and 2024 ESPAD surveys by (1) examining differences in frequency (infrequent: monthly or less; frequent: twice monthly or more), (2) gambling venue (onsite, online or both on-site and online) and (3) risk level (lower-risk: lotteries, traditional games; higher-risk: slot machines, betting). When the findings from the 2015 and 2024 ESPAD surveys were compared, they showed, firstly, that infrequent gambling increased significantly between 2015 and 2024 for both genders across all venues. Infrequent onsite gambling rose among boys from 13.4% to 24% (p < 0.001) and among girls from 11.2% to 27.9% (p < 0.001). Online gambling followed a similar pattern, increasing among boys from ~10% to over 21% (p < 0.001) and among girls from 6.2% to 24.7% (p < 0.001). Gambling occurring both on-site and online also increased, from 15.4% to 27.4% among boys (p < 0.001) and from 13.1% to 34% among girls (p < 0.001). Secondly, frequent gambling (twice or more per month) also increased significantly across settings. Frequent gambling across both settings rose from 7.3% to 14% among boys (p < 0.001) and from 1.6% to 6.9% among girls (p < 0.001). Frequent on-site gambling rose among boys from 5.8% to 10.8% (p < 0.001) and among girls from 1.3% to 4.1% (p < 0.001). Frequent online gambling increased among boys from 5.8% to 10.8% (p < 0.001) and among girls from 1.2% to 5.3% (p < 0.001). Thirdly, infrequent lower-risk gambling increased markedly for both genders. On-site lower-risk gambling rose among boys from 11% to 23.5% and among girls from 10.9% to 27.5% (both p < 0.001). Online lower-risk gambling increased from 7.6% to 20% among boys and from 6.2% to 22.4% among girls (both p < 0.001). Infrequent higher-risk online gambling increased for both genders. Infrequent higher-risk on-site gambling increased for boys from 7.1% to 9.7% (not significant; p ~ 0.155), while the increase for girls – from 2.1% to 5.8% – was significant (p < 0.001). Fourth, more frequent lower-risk and higher-risk gambling also increased. Frequent lower-risk on-site gambling rose among boys from 2.9% in boys in 2015 to 8.4% in 2024 (p < 0.001) and from 1% in 2015 to 3.2% in 2024 (p ~ 0.005) for girls. Frequent lower-risk online gambling among boys increased from 3% to 6.5% (p < 0.001) for boys and from 0.8% to 4% (p < 0.001) for girls. Frequent higher-risk gambling rose in both on-site and online settings for both genders. Frequent higher risk on-site gambling increased for boys from 3.3% to 6.9% (p ~ 0.002) and for girls from 0.8% to 2.8% (p ~ 0.004). Frequent higher risk online gambling increased for boys from 4.4% to 7.1% (p ~ 0.054) and for girls from 0.8% to 2.4% (p ~ 0.029). When the findings are considered as a whole, gambling participation increased substantially among adolescents in Iceland between 2015 and 2024, with the largest rise seen in infrequent lower-risk gambling, although higher-risk forms also increased. Boys consistently reported higher levels of risky gambling than girls. These patterns align with European and international research showing sharp increases in online gambling among adolescents. The results underscore the urgent need for clearer gambling regulations in Iceland – particularly regarding age limits and marketing practices – as well as strengthened prevention and education strategies aimed at reducing gambling among young people.