Denmark launches underage gambling campaign

The Danish Gambling Authority has launched a nationwide initiative aimed at young people which stresses the consequences of gambling.

Despite the fact that the majority of gambling products are only allowed for those over the age of 18, a recent study by the Danish Gambling Authority found that 15 per cent of people aged 15 – 17 have gambled in the past 12 months.

“Young people under the age of 18 in Denmark find ways to gamble, for example through friends or family or through online gambling sites without a Danish licence,” said Anders Dorph, director of the Danish Gambling Authority.

“We know that the younger you are when you make your gambling debut, the more likely you are to develop a gaming problem later on. That’s why, for the first time, we’re targeting under-18s directly, and we’re doing it in a new, creative way that turns the whole thing on its head.

“This is necessary if we are to remind young people of the risks of gambling and, not least, that the house always wins in the long run; gambling is not a way to quick and easy money.

“The seriousness of gambling addiction must not be downplayed. But that doesn’t mean we should be pointing fingers at the under-18s. We have chosen a new approach in this effort, where we try to open young people’s eyes through humour and irony on their terms, so we arouse their curiosity, get them engaged and relate to gambling without stigmatizing and creating fear.”