Danish Regulator Study Finds Education Improves Youth Gambling Literacy and Attitudes
Spillemyndigheden study found educational gambling presentations improved gambling knowledge among students aged 16 to 20. After attending the sessions, students were less likely to see gambling as a way to make money and more likely to view it as entertainment. More than three-quarters of respondents agreed with key messages that gambling products have a return-to-player rate below 100 per cent.
SCCG Take — Education programmes like this offer regulators a non-restrictive route to harm prevention. Operators in similar markets may see indirect benefits through greater public distinction between licensed and unlicensed products.
As reported by Focus Gaming News, a study by the Danish gambling regulator Spillemyndigheden has found that its educational presentations improved understanding of gambling among students aged 16 to 20. The sessions, delivered from September 2024 to March 2025, focused on products, game mechanics and consumer protections. Surveys captured responses from 1,433 students beforehand and 534 afterwards.
Aggregate results showed meaningful changes in knowledge and expectations. Students became less likely to view gambling as a path to income and more likely to see it as entertainment. More than three-quarters agreed that products carry a return-to-player rate below 100 per cent and that long-term profits are unlikely. Awareness of licensed operators rose as well.
Changes in Product Recognition
Recognition of what counts as gambling increased, especially among female students. The share who identified prior engagement with gambling activities rose from 19 per cent to 48 per cent. This reflected new understanding that scratchcards, including Christmas calendar versions, qualify as gambling rather than any increase in participation. Among male respondents, the proportion describing themselves as very or very much aware of the Danish gambling licence logo increased from 39 per cent to 61 per cent.
Regulator Perspectives on the Results
Anders Dorph, director of Spillemyndigheden, said: “The fact that we can see in black and white that our presentations make a difference naturally makes me very happy and proud of our efforts.” Heine Jakobsen, a special consultant involved in the programme, said: “There is a general ignorance about which areas are defined as gambling, so it is an eye-opener for many, especially girls, when we tell them that scratchcards, such as Christmas calendar scratchcards, are also gambling.”
The report appears alongside Spillemyndigheden’s “Casino in the Children’s Room” campaign, which highlights gambling-like features in video games for parents. The data support continued use of classroom education to shape realistic views of gambling.
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