A recent survey involving nearly 2,000 students demonstrated that presentations by the Danish Gambling Authority significantly enhanced young people's understanding of gambling. Following these classroom sessions, students indicated a greater inclination to view gambling as a form of entertainment rather than a means to earn money.
The Danish Gambling Authority conducted these educational presentations between September 2024 and March 2025, focusing on the mechanics of gambling and gaming. Researchers evaluated responses from 1,433 students surveyed before the presentations and 534 surveyed three to six weeks afterward, with participants predominantly aged 16 to 20.
Surveys were administered online to classes before a scheduled presentation, and again weeks later. Due to the anonymous nature of the responses, researchers could not track individual changes over time.
Shift Towards Entertainment
Post-presentation data revealed that students were less inclined to cite monetary gain as their primary motivation for gambling, instead emphasizing entertainment. This aligns with a key message from the sessions: gambling should primarily be seen as a form of entertainment.
The report highlighted a notable increase in students' understanding of what constitutes gambling. Many students, particularly young women, expressed previous unawareness that items like scratchcards—such as festive Christmas calendar cards—fall under the gambling category. Among female respondents, recognition of having engaged in gambling nearly doubled, rising from 19% prior to the presentations to 48% afterward.
Heightened Awareness of Licensing
The presentations also fostered greater awareness regarding the Danish gambling licence mark, which certifies operators as authorized in Denmark. For male respondents, understanding of what this mark represents increased from 39% to 61% after the sessions.
Overall, more than 75% of students resonated with important messages conveyed during the sessions. These included the acknowledgment that all gambling has a payout percentage below 100% and that achieving a financial profit from gambling over time is statistically improbable. Most respondents also expressed a belief they could effectively control their gambling habits, with approximately 69% agreeing or strongly agreeing with this sentiment.
Surprising Realizations About Scratchcards
Anders Dorph, director of the Danish Gambling Authority, emphasized the significance of providing young people with a comprehensive understanding of gambling and its mechanics. "Seeing clear evidence that our presentations make a difference brings me great happiness and pride in our work," he remarked.
Heine Jakobsen, a special consultant within the Authority's presentation team, noted that many students are surprised to discover that scratchcards qualify as gambling. "There is a general ignorance about which activities are classified as gambling, which is especially enlightening for many girls, including the fact that Christmas calendar scratchcards are also gambling," he said.
In recent weeks, the Danish Gambling Authority has focused on young generations and their interaction with gambling. They initiated the campaign "Casino in the Children Room," aiming to expand discussions about young people's digital habits beyond just screen time to include in-game content and mechanics.
