Online gambling among young people up 41% since pre-pandemic levels

The number of young people gambling online has risen sharply in recent years, according to a study released on Monday by Spain’s private gaming industry association, Consejo Empresarial del Juego (CeJuego).

The report, based on figures from the Directorate General for Gambling Regulation, shows a 41% increase in gambling among people aged 18-25.

In 2019, the last year before the pandemic, 378,793 young people gambled online, a figure that rose to 534,335 in 2023.

Online gambling also grew by 14% among 26-35 year olds. In total, 1.6 million people in Spain gambled online in 2023, compared to 1.3 million in 2019.

The findings are part of a report titled 'Gambling and Society 2024' presented in Barcelona on Monday.

Overall, men under 45 are the demographic that gambles the most.

CeJuego’s report also revealed that 2.3% of the population aged 18-75 engaged in online gambling on a monthly basis in 2023, nearly double the 1.2% recorded in 2016.

The report also points out that 85% of adults in Spain engage in gambling activity in some form or another, primarily driven by the annual Christmas lottery.

Seen as a “national event,” Spain’s Christmas lottery has no parallel worldwide in terms of participation.

In 2023, 25.9 million people played the Christmas lottery, with 74.9% of the population saying they had purchased a ticket in the past year, very similar rates to 2019.

Problem gambling trends

CeJuego’s report estimates that problem gambling affects just 0.2% of the population, a figure it claims is on the decline.

However, data from Spain’s Ministry of Health points to a 2022 survey that shows 1.7% of Spaniards exhibit signs of problem gambling, down from 2.2% in 2020.

The ministry further estimates that 1.3% of people aged 15-64 display signs of problem gambling, with 0.4% classified as having a potential gambling disorder.