New study: Slightly more Danes risk becoming addicted to gambling

New study: Slightly more Danes risk becoming addicted to gambling

Fewer Danes play for money today than 10 years ago, but more are at risk of having problems with gambling addiction. These are the results of a new study from The National Centre for Social Research (SFI). Steps are taken to tackle this development.
On August 30, the SFI published a report on gambling and gambling problems in Denmark. The report has been funded by the Ministry of Taxation, and the results can be compared with a similar study conducted by SFI in 2005.

Fewer play for money

According to the report, the proportion of 18-74 year olds who have played for money in the past year is lower in 2016 than in 2005. In 2005 it was 76 percent compared to 63 percent this year. On the other hand, the report shows that slightly more 18-74 year olds have a gaming behaviour that can evolve to become problematic.
SFI estimates that the number of people with an actual game addiction is about 10,000. The figure from 2005 was approximately 6,000. However, the exact number is difficult to determine due to the statistical uncertainty.

Mostly men between 18 and 39 years are at risk

The studies from both 2005 and 2016 show that it is primarily 18 to 39 year old men who are at risk of developing a problematic gambling behaviour. The new study furthermore shows that the most commonly played game type among players with moderate or severe gambling problems is online betting, while in 2005 it was card games.
The report points out that the prevalence of problem gambling is lower in Denmark than in Norway and the UK, while there does not appear to be differences in the prevalence of problem gambling in Sweden and Denmark.

The Danish Gambling Authority launches app and strengthens work to create awareness 

When the market for betting and online casino was liberalised in 2012 the Danish Gambling Authority, which is an agency under the Ministry of Taxation, developed a voluntary online register for problem gamblers (ROFUS). Via the Danish Gambling Authority's website players can quickly and easily exclude themselves from online games for a period of 24 hours or permanently. Currently, approximately 7,500 Danes are registered in ROFUS .

- It is important that we, as an authority in the field, do our part to raise awareness of the means to prevent a possible gambling problem, says the Gambling Authority's director Birgitte Sand. - We will therefore launch a series of initiatives to raise awareness of the rules of the gaming legislation with particular focus on ROFUS and with an App, where people can track their gaming usage and test themselves for gambling addiction, says Birgitte Sand.

Initiatives launched in the autumn of 2016 and beginning of 2017:

• An App, where the player can register in ROFUS, register gaming consumption, test for gambling addiction and find treatment facilities
• The Gambling Authority will offer lectures on gaming legislation for educational institutions, sports clubs etc.
• A campaign to spread knowledge of ROFUS.

In December 2016 SFI will also publish a study of the prevalence of gambling addiction among the 13-17 year olds.

For further information, please contact:

Director Birgitte Sand, +45 25 44 05 03, bs@spillemyndigheden.dk
Head of office, Jan Madsen, 72 38 96 59, jm@spillemyndigheden.dk