Gambling is popular among young adults. A recent survey found more than half of people aged between 18 and 30 gambled recently, disproving claims that it is a marginal phenomenon.
For the first time, insight into the gambling behaviour of younger people has been gathered in a recent survey by Ipsos. The market research company surveyed 1,000 Belgian young people aged between 18 and 30, with findings published by the Gambling Commission (KSC). It reveals that 53% of young people have gambled at least once in the last three years.
This figure rises to 65% among young men whilst for women it was 41%. Of those who had participated, 62% had played gambling games or taken part in sports betting only occasionally, indicating that it is more of a recreational activity.
However, 13% of young adults indicated that they take part in such "games" on a daily basis, a sign that they either have or could develop a gambling addiction.
Legal vs illegal
The survey also charts the brand awareness of illegal providers among Belgian youths for the first time. Although legal websites are much better known, four in 10 respondents also know at least one illegal provider by name. Worringly, 36% of those surveyed don't know the difference between a legal and an illegal gambling website.
Legal websites must be licensed and can be recognised by the Always Play Legally mark with a blue tick. To receive such a licence, they must comply with the KSC regulations, which include operating a gaming limit and excluding people with known gambling problems.
Websites of unlicensed providers come with risks: firstly as they may not respect Belgian rules, but also they may not pay out winnings. Importantly, if the website does not end in ".be", it is not legal. These are included on the blacklist of illegal sites which the KSC constantly updates.
Pulled in by ads
The survey follows the introduction of an advertising ban on gambling websites, which has been in place since July this year. For the sports sector, there is still a transition period for advertising in sports stadiums and on the shirts of sports teams.
The impact of advertising is still strong: a quarter of young people acknowledged that advertising had prompted them to take part in betting or casino games or continue playing. While the figures indicate that a ban on gambling advertising would lead to a decrease in gambling among young people, the sector itself has warned it could drive users to illegal gambling and betting websites.
The recent results of the survey will provide a baseline measurement to later assess the effect of the ban. The KSC stressed that the results of the survey are also food for thought about the actions to be taken to better protect players. It also noted that a more comprehensive approach is needed, in part through education and the media, to prevent people from gambling by raising awareness of the dangers involved.
