A recent survey involving nearly 2,000 students reveals increased awareness of gambling mechanics and licensed operators among Danish youth after engaging presentations by the Danish Gambling Authority. The findings suggest that students are more inclined to view gambling as a form of entertainment rather than a means to earn money.
The Danish Gambling Authority conducted free presentations aimed at improving young people's understanding of gambling from September 2024 to March 2025. Researchers evaluated feedback from 1,433 students prior to the presentations and 534 responses collected three to six weeks post-presentation. Participants were typically aged between 16 and 20 years.
The surveys were administered online, with classes answering questions before and after the scheduled sessions. Since individual responses could not be matched, it was not possible to track changes in opinions for each student.
Following these sessions, there was a noticeable shift: students were less likely to state that winning money was their primary motivation for gambling and more likely to regard it as entertainment. This change aligns with a core message from the presentations, emphasizing that gambling should be seen as a recreational activity rather than a way to accumulate wealth.
Additionally, the report highlighted a rise in the recognition of what constitutes gambling. Many students, especially young women, were unaware that scratchcards—including Christmas calendar scratchcards—are forms of gambling. The percentage of female respondents who acknowledged having tried gambling increased significantly from 19% before the presentations to 48% post-session.
The students’ awareness of the Danish gambling licence mark also improved. For male respondents, the awareness of what this mark represents jumped from 39% to 61% after the presentations. More than 75% of students agreed with important messages from the sessions, including the understanding that all forms of gambling have a payout percentage below 100% and that expecting to profit from gambling over time is unlikely. Approximately 69% of students reported feeling in control of their gambling choices.
Anders Dorph, director of the Danish Gambling Authority, emphasized the importance of providing young people with a clear understanding of gambling and its mechanics. "Seeing solid evidence that our presentations make a difference fills me with pride regarding our initiatives," he commented.
Heine Jakobsen, a special consultant in the Authority’s presentation group, noted that students were often surprised to learn that scratchcards are classified as gambling. "There is widespread ignorance about what constitutes gambling, especially among girls, when they discover that even Christmas calendar scratchcards fall under this category," he explained.
Recently, the Danish Gambling Authority has focused on engaging younger audiences concerning their gambling habits. As part of their efforts to curb underage gambling, they launched the initiative "Casino in the Children Room," aiming to expand conversations around young people’s digital interactions beyond just screen time to include discussions about in-game content and mechanics.
