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Matt Bastock

The Swedish gambling regulator, Spelinspektionen, has published a report showing an increase in young people’s gambling. 

Spelinspektionen was commissioned in 2024 to undertake an investigation into gambling among young people and also minors. The Gambling Authority notes that there has been an increase in gambling not only among 18-24-year-olds but also among those under the age of 18. 

The report published questions the underlying factors behind the increase in young people’s gambling and how they relate to the current gambling landscape. It suggests that lottery-like games serve as an introduction to games and marketing in the form of influencers and streaming. 

Key Findings: How and Why Young People Are Gambling More

Data from the Swedish Public Health Agency’s 2021 study shows that 34% of those surveyed between the ages of 16 and 17 had gambled in the past year, up from 20% in 2015. The rise was predominantly in young male students, whereas the proportion of females remained steady. 

Spelinspektionen notes that the number of males under 18 recorded as having gambled is at the highest since records began, and whilst participation in females has increased since 2019, the rise is not as significant. 

Interviews with participants revealed that gambling discussions and activities are common at schools. Students reported placing bets on football matches during breaks; others revealed secretly gambling in the classroom. 

A 19-year-old respondent admitted, “You sit at the back of the classroom, and as soon as the teacher comes in, you remove the pages you are playing on.” 

The sense of community and peer pressure is also a contributing factor, with a 25-year-old revealing (translated), “I was in high school at the time, and back then it was kind of a thing that when everyone turned 18 they started betting and that’s when I played. Football matches, and there was a lot of talk about it at school. People discussed it and then people got hung up on it. Be part of the community.” 

How Gambling Companies Target Young Players

Gambling companies’ marketing is also shown to expose younger people to gambling products. A study showed that 45% of Instagram gambling posts were visible to minors, as were 37% of Facebook posts. One respondent to the survey noted, “There are almost only betting companies that advertise in the sports podcasts I listen to.” 

The predominant method of financing gambling amongst young people is salary and student loans or study funds. Given that this is the primary income for most people in the surveyed age bracket, it is unsurprising. For those in ‘Spelpaus,’ the Swedish equivalent of self-exclusion, the proportion of young people who had delved into savings or taken out finance increased dramatically.

High-interest loans, or ‘pay-day loans,’ were more common amongst men aged 23-24 who have admitted finding it difficult to control their gambling. The overall figure for those under the age of 25 seeking help for gambling problems has also shown an increase, per Swedish records.

Given the reported increase in gambling among younger people, the Swedish Gambling Authority investigated whether licensees were implementing special measures aimed at players under the age of 25. It reported that 47 out of 67 licensees go beyond the minimum requirements of the Gambling Act for responsible gambling measures.

The problem is only aggravated by the possibility for the young Swedes to gamble at casinos without a Swedish license. 92% of respondents stated “other measures” and mentioned special attention being paid to young people in the free text answers on the survey. 

The survey also shows that operators take other measures under the Spelinspektionen remit, such as lower deposit limits, limited marketing mailings, and even introducing a higher age limit than the statutory 18-year age limit for gambling participation. 

Written By

Matt Bastock

Matt is a casino and sports betting expert with over two decades’ writing and editing experience. He loves getting into the nitty gritty of how casinos and sportsbooks really operate in order to make solid recommendations based on real experiences. His favourite games are blackjack and poker, and he loves watching NFL and soccer in his spare time.

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Matt Bastock

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) has fined BetMGM $260,905 for permitting self-excluded gamblers to play on its site. 

The PGCB found 152 instances of players who were self-excluded from gambling, placing wagers across the BetMGM and Borgata platforms.

Upon an audit of accounts, 148 breaches of the rule showed over $252,000 in deposits, with around $82,400 being withdrawn. The difference retained by BetMGM & Borgata as a result was approximately $170,000. 

Two additional incidents were highlighted as self-reported. The first, in July 2022, saw a self-excluded individual deposit $700, later withdraw $100, and the iGaming provider retain $600. 

The second, in July 2023, saw two additional self-excluded accounts have wagering activity. The total deposited was $183,600, with $92,935.59 withdrawn. BetMGM retained $91,648.41. 

The overall figure for the period in review saw over $436,000 deposited by individuals who had placed themself on the exclusion list, with BetMGM retaining upwards of $260,000.

BetMGM’s Compliance Failures and the Resulting Penalty 

BetMGM has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $260,905, a $2,500 administrative fee, and will donate $20,000 to the Pennsylvania Council on Problem Gambling. 

Commissioner Shawn Dillan expressed surprise that BetMGM’s systems let one player deposit $183,000, “I mean, who’s got that kind of money to deposit $183,000? Doesn’t that raise a red flag?” 

He continued, “If somebody puts that big of a deposit into an account, doesn’t somebody got to look into that?” 

BetMGM’s Senior Director of Compliance, Sarah Brennan, responded, “We do evaluate players for any inconsistency in play behavior. We have an anti-money laundering team, but we have players of all value who wager on our platform. Based only on deposit amount, it wouldn’t necessarily raise a flag if there weren’t other issues that would have been flagged by fraud risk or AML.” 

BetMGM attributed the first error to the platform not properly consuming PII (Personally Identifiable Information). The company now conducts manual line-by-line reviews of any self-exclusion data before it’s uploaded to the platform. 

The latter violations were the result of manual errors and technological misconfigurations. BetMGM has told the commission that it now undertakes rigorous system testing and has invested in additional training and oversight. 

Commissioner Manzano-Diaz commented regarding human error, “I only have one question—you said, I think it was the second time, it was a human error. So, what do you do about that? How do you address that? That’s a challenging one because, as you know, humans make mistakes.” 

BetMGM’s response was to assure the Commission that rigorous training had taken place after the issue, “So when the issue was identified, and the individual who had made the mistake was forthcoming in the fact that they had identified how it happened and that it was a miss—a miss on their part—we went over the process with them again, exactly how it works. And that individual has not made the same mistake twice.”

How BetMGM is Addressing Self-Exclusion Breaches

BetMGM agreed on the settlement terms, given that the company had self-reported the identified issues. It has also outlined remediation measures taken:

• Manual review process for self-exclusion data;
• Increasing the size of the Compliance department from 9 to nearly 100 employees;
• Enhanced training for all staff;
• Investment in back-office technology;
• Regular internal audits for improved accuracy and oversight. 

Written By

Matt Bastock

Matt is a casino and sports betting expert with over two decades’ writing and editing experience. He loves getting into the nitty gritty of how casinos and sportsbooks really operate in order to make solid recommendations based on real experiences. His favourite games are blackjack and poker, and he loves watching NFL and soccer in his spare time.

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The Group created a 2024 policy paper on “strategies and regulatory options aimed at reducing risks and harms related to online gaming and online gambling.” The paper found that gambling and gaming products were deliberately made to be “as immersive and addictive as possible.”

The new project was launched at the start of a two-day conference in Rome. It seeks to counter these issues through policy and raise awareness among the 46 members of the Council of Europe. 

Orsolya Kiraly, a researcher at the Eotvos Lorand University’s Institute of Psychology in Budapest, said that only a small number of adolescents experience the worst effects, which include addition-like symptoms, but in these rare cases the negative consequences are severe and include functional impairment. 

Kiraly added that online gambling and gaming are of particular concern for children due to the impact it has on their development. This includes mental and physical issues such as family conflict, sleep disturbances, as well as poor eating and hygiene habits. 

Citing research, Kiraly told the conference that gambling disorders could affect 26.4% of adolescents who are gambling online and 16.3% of those use sports betting.

The other front they are fighting on is video games, which are said to incorporate gambling-like features, such as “loot boxes.” These boxes contain unknown objects and can be bought within video games. The risk of addiction is higher among boys, while girls are found to have a higher likelihood of developing addiction-like disorders from social media, according to Kiraly.

However, there is also a problem among adults, and the distinct ways people of different ages deal with these difficulties make strategies harder to formulate. 

Simona Pichini, director of the addiction center at Italy’s National Health Institute (ISS), told the conference that Italy’s national gambling hotline most often receives calls from adults, not young people. The other issue is that they often wait until the problem has become so bad, rather than at the beginning when they first identify they may have a problem. On the other hand, adolescents and young people often are unaware they may have a problem and, therefore, see no need to reach out for help.

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In its second year, the initiative has once again seen the operator donate £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every maximum score at the world championship, which concluded last Friday night when Luke Littler defeated Michael van Gerwen by seven sets to three.

In total, 907 maximums were thrown during the tournament, with Littler throwing the most with 76, followed by van Gerwen with 56 and Callan Rydz with 43.

Paddy Power also pledged £60,000 to the charity for each nine-dart finish at the event, of which two were recorded by Christian Kist and Damon Heta. This brought the total amount donated to Prostate Cancer UK through ‘The Bigger 180’ campaign to £1.027m.

Jack Wilson, Head of Content at Paddy Power, said to SBC News: “We offered a £180,000 bonus for every nine-darter – shared between player, fan and Prostate Cancer UK – while once again we committed to donating £1,000 for every 180. 

“Thanks to the sharp-shooting of Damon Heta and Christian Kist, two fans went away £60,000 richer and another £120,000 was put into a cheque for Prostate Cancer UK.

“All in all, Paddy Power donated £1,027,000 to the charity, which will help fund the TRANSFORM trial. 

“Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men and TRANSFORM will find the best way to test for prostate cancer, so we can be sure which is the most effective method for a nationwide screening programme that could save thousands of lives every year.”

Paddy Power’s ‘The Bigger 180’ campaign ambassador was Sir Chris Hoy, who also presented the Ballon d’Art trophy to Littler for hitting the most 180s during the tournament.

Sky Sports also joined forces with Paddy Power to help raise awareness by asking men to check their risk of prostate cancer.

Wilson noted: “We also joined forces with Sky Sports to call on 180,000 men to check their risk for prostate cancer. More than 150,000 have done so so far – and with Sir Chris Hoy leading the calls as a campaign ambassador, that number continues to rapidly rise.”

Hoy said via the Prostate Cancer UK website: “The huge sum being donated will make a big difference to the lives of thousands of men. It’s a huge step forward and we’re now one big step closer to making a long-lasting and meaningful change to men’s health.

“The TRANSFORM trial aims to find the best way to test men for prostate cancer, so we can be sure which is the most effective method for a nationwide screening programme that could save thousands of lives every year. This massive cash injection can have an impact on men’s lives for years to come.”

Chiara De Biase, Director of Health Services, Equity & Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, stated: “Every 180 thrown, every cheer from fans and every pound raised has brought us closer to a future where all men can be screened for prostate cancer.

“With £1,027,000 raised and thousands of men taking our online Risk Checker, this campaign has delivered a remarkable impact. As well as the sensational fundraising, we’re proud that more than 143,000 men have completed our online Risk Checker – making this a truly life-changing campaign.”

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Available via the bet365 app and website, players in the South American country can now play on the bet365 Casino platform, which features live casino and slots content including multi-layered jackpots, classic-style fruit games and the latest titles.

With headquarters in Barueri, São Paulo, bet365 is also bringing its sports betting offering to Brazil and its responsible gambling tools to help customers play safely.

bet365 was one of over 60 businesses confirmed recently by Brazil’s Ministry of Finance to have completed full licence applications for the Brazilian igaming market. 

“We are delighted to announce our launch in Brazil, and deliver a premium sports betting experience to this vibrant market,” commented a spokesperson for bet365.

“Football fans around the world share a love of the beautiful game, but nowhere is that passion more evident than here. We’re thrilled that our Never Ordinary brand platform can further enhance the enjoyment of the sport for the Brazilian people.

“In addition, we will use our expertise and advanced responsible gambling tools to ensure a safe and responsible environment for all new customers.”

Elsewhere in South America, bet365 launched its online casino and slots offerings in Peru back in October last year.

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In a statement on its website, the gambling support charity explained that Osmond has received an OBE for services to tackling gambling harms.

Osmond has been working with GambleAware for over six years, previously serving as a Campaign Advisor from September 2018, before becoming CEO of the charity in April 2021.

“I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive this OBE,” stated Osmond. 

“This is recognition of the tireless efforts of the whole team at GambleAware, our partners, and the wider lived experience community who have shared their personal stories and insights with the hope of reducing gambling-related harm across Great Britain.”

Osmond continued: “I am privileged to lead an organisation that is committed to supporting those affected by gambling harms, raising awareness, and driving meaningful change. 

“As we enter a new year, we must continue to work together, strengthen our efforts, and ensure that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the help and support they need.

“I dedicate this award to those who have been affected by gambling harms, whose resilience continues to inspire us every day, and to all the individuals and organisations working alongside us to prevent gambling harm.”

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The KSA noted that the policy provides “more guidelines for imposing fines” and “more clarity to gambling providers and other parties” under the authority’s supervision. 

Published in the Government Gazette of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the policy will apply to all violations that the KSA supervises, covering specific violations determined by the country’s Remote Gambling Act and its Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Prevention) Act (Wwft).

The new fine policy is split into five categories, each category with a basic fine amount. 

Category one fine range is €0 to €500 with a basic fine of €500; category two fine range is €0 to €10,000 with a basic fine of €10,000; category three fine range is €0 to €200,000 with a basic fine of €100,000; category four fine range is €0 to €1m with a basic fine of €500,000; and category five fine range is €0 to €4m with a basic fine of €2m.

The KSA noted that fines in category five will only be imposed for Wwft violations. For non-Wwft violations in the highest category of category four, the authority has the option to further impose a turnover-related fine of 3% of the offender’s gross turnover to increase the fine’s effectiveness.

Offering transparency surrounding how fine categories are determined, the authority has provided a step-by-step breakdown of its violation evaluation process: 

• Step 1: Basic amount – determines the applicable basic amount for fine
• Step 2: Recidivism – doubling the basic amount if the licence holder has committed the violation previously.
• Step 3: Seriousness – examining the magnitude and duration of the violation, if the licence holder has previously violated the standard without an administrative sanction being imposed, negative consequences on customers, negative social consequences and possible integrity risks, reducing or increasing the fine if necessary by up to 50%.
• Step 4: Blame – evaluate the licence holder’s culpability, reducing or increasing the fine if necessary by up to 50%.
• Step 5: Scope of Offender – Use the licence holder’s gross turnover to determine the fine amount. For entities within corporate groups, consolidated turnover may also be considered.
• Step 6: Special circumstances – Licence holders can present special circumstances which may reduce fines by up to 25%. Examples include voluntary reporting, full independent investigations, rectifying action taken and implementing effective measures to end the violation.
• Step 7: Accumulation of fines – taking into account related violations if necessary to ensure fines imposed are appropriate.
• Step 8: Benefits Acquired – if the benefit obtained is higher than the fine amount, the fine will be increased to at least the amount of that benefit obtained.
• Step 9: Financial capacity – If necessary, the financial capacity of the licence holder will be taken into account.

The Government Gazette reads: “For determining a fine for a violation of a provision classified in category I or II, only steps 1, 6 and 9 of the step-by-step plan apply. For determining a fine for a violation of a provision of the Wwft classified in category II, step 2 also applies.”

Michel Groothuizen, Chair of the board at the KSA, stated: “The KSA is becoming increasingly professional as an organisation. After the opening of the online market in 2021, we were given a new category of license holders. In 2022, we imposed a first fine on a license holder. 

“We have now gained enough experience to arrive at a well-considered fine policy for both license holders and other parties. This creates clarity for the parties under our supervision and hopefully motivates them even more to avoid fines.”

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The review has been initiated under Section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 after the Commission identified Evolution games as “being accessible from the UK through operators not holding a Commission license”.

A range of outcomes is possible from the review, including no action being taken, conditions being imposed on the licence, financial sanction, suspension and revocation of Evolution’s licence to operate.

Within its statement, Evolution said it is cooperating with the UKGC to resolve the matter.

“Evolution is cooperating fully with the Commission and has taken requested immediate actions to remedy the situation,” the supplier said.

“Games on the identified websites not holding a Commission license have been made unavailable from the UK. Evolution continues to actively work with the Commission to resolve this matter.”

Martin Carlesund, CEO of Evolution, also commented on the UKGC review, noting that the supplier is committed to supporting the licensed UK market, which generates around 3% of its revenue.

“Evolution embraces the objectives of the review by the Commission,” stated Carlesund.

“We are committed to support the licensed UK market as well as preventing unlicensed traffic. We are now taking forceful action using all technical tools available to us to ensure that our games only are available in the UK through Commission licensed operators. 

“We believe that a close collaboration to address our joint concerns will lead to swifter and better results. As always we remain committed to an open and transparent relationship with our regulators.”

The review of Evolution’s licence in the UK comes after UKGC CEO Andrew Rhodes told licensed operators at its annual CEO Briefing last month to conduct due diligence to ensure suppliers are not supporting illegal activity.

Rhodes said: “I said to you last year that I wanted to encourage you to use your commercial influence with any partner or supplier you have to ensure they were taking all the relevant steps to verify they were not supporting illegal activity facing into GB. 

“I’m going to go one step further than that today and strongly suggest you all undertake due diligence to ensure none of your suppliers are directly or indirectly engaged in supporting unlicensed activity in this market. 

“The Commission’s strategy on combatting illegal gambling is to cause as much up-stream disruption as we can, which is why we have focussed on ISPs, payment providers, search engines, software suppliers and more.”

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Serving a nine-month term as interim Chair from 1 February 2025, Counsell will be replacing Marcus Boyle, who will be stepping down as Chair at the end of January next year.

Counsell has been a Senior Independent Director for the UKGC since April 2024. Previously, he was the CEO of The Pensions Regulator from April 2019 to March 2023. 

During his time at The Pensions Regulator, Counsell helped to develop a corporate strategy to make the pension saver a priority for the organisation’s work, in addition to delivering the regulator’s first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Climate Change strategies.

He has also served as CEO of the Money Advice Service and Executive Director of Automatic Enrolment at The Pensions Regulator. 

Leaving the UKGC at the end of next month, Boyle has been Chair of the Commission since September 2021. His term was initially set to expire on 4 September 2026.

In November, Baroness Twycross, Minister for Gambling, said on Boyle’s departure: “The past three years have been very significant for the Commission, as it takes forward measures set out in the Gambling Act Review and the start of the fourth National Lottery licence.

“I am grateful for Marcus’s hard work and commitment to the Gambling Commission and public service over his tenure and wish him the best for his future endeavours.”

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