According to data from Denmark’s gambling regulator Spillemyndigheden, the majority of those with gambling problems placed their first bet before they turned 25.
StopSpillet, a helpline run by Spillemyndigheden to support those with gambling problems.
StopSpillet, the regulator’s new app, has received more than 2,500 calls in just a few months since its launch.
Callers to the helpline are asked about their first bet. Data shows that 88% said their first bet had been placed by players aged 25 or younger.
The regulator noted that in Denmark, the minimum age to gamble is 18 years old. However, 50% of the players placed their first wager before they turned 17 years old.
More information
StopSpillet data revealed that the majority of callers had been experiencing gambling problems for two years and seven months before they contacted StopSpillet.
StopSpillet receives 39% of its calls from relatives of problem players, with half of those calls coming from the parents of the players.
One-third of these calls came from spouses and one-third from siblings.
