Iceland Finds Four in Ten Upper Secondary Students Gambled in the Past Year

Online gambling is becoming a routine activity for a significant share of Iceland’s teenagers, and researchers now believe the issue cannot be separated from the country’s worsening youth mental health.

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A nationwide survey by the University of Iceland found that roughly 40% of upper secondary students had gambled at least once during the previous 12 months. It is the first time gambling has been included in the long-running Youth in Iceland survey, which traditionally tracks young people’s wellbeing, lifestyle and attitudes.

The findings suggest gambling is no longer a niche behaviour among adolescents. Instead, it is increasingly overlapping with loneliness, emotional distress and social isolation, particularly as online platforms make gambling easier to access.

Mental Health and Gambling Collide

Researchers involved in the survey argue the figures point to a growing need for prevention programmes aimed at teenagers and young adults before gambling habits become more deeply rooted.

The research identifies people aged between 18 and 25 as Iceland’s most active gambling group. That same age bracket is also more likely to experience financial difficulties and mental health problems connected to gambling.

The broader picture is equally concerning. Feelings of loneliness have continued to rise since the previous survey two years ago. Four in ten young women reported feeling lonely often or all the time, an increase of ten percentage points. Among young men, frequent loneliness climbed to more than 30%, compared with roughly one quarter previously.

Researchers believe these trends are closely connected. Emotional struggles, weak social relationships and loneliness are recognised risk factors for gambling, particularly online, where betting can become a solitary activity. Nearly one in four students also reported difficulties in relationships with their peers, another factor that may increase the likelihood of turning to online gambling.

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Online Slots Lead the Way

The survey shows gambling is considerably more common among boys and young men than among girls.

Among respondents aged 18 and over, almost 55% of men reported gambling during the previous year, while the figure for women stood at 33%. The same pattern appeared among younger participants. Just over 44% of boys under 18 said they had gambled, compared with around 28% of girls.

Online slot machines emerged as the most popular form of gambling, with 15% of respondents saying they had used them. Scratch cards, bingo and poker-style money games also ranked among the most common activities. More than one in ten students had placed bets online, while 9% reported using online casinos.

The results add another layer to concerns about young people’s digital habits. Unlike traditional gambling venues, online products are available almost constantly through phones and computers, making them easier to reach for teenagers already spending much of their free time online.

For researchers, the message from the survey is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. As gambling participation grows alongside worsening indicators of loneliness and emotional wellbeing, preventing gambling harm among young people is no longer just a question of regulation. It is becoming part of a much broader public health challenge.

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Source: www.icelandreview.com