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Problem gambling is an issue, which continues to loom large in a number of countries around the globe, and researchers point out that Sweden is a territory, which has not gone unaffected by this widespread phenomenon.
Understanding the risk factors and onset of problem gambling is of essential importance while examining how common gambling addiction is among Swedes, which is the reason why this matter gets a great amount of attention.
This is a public health matter more and more countries have started to address because of the serious consequences it has on society and all aspects of people’s lives. The growing necessity to tackle this problem led to a number of legislative amendments that are expected to prevent problem gambling and alleviate the effects from it.
Gambling Addiction Rates in Sweden
The Public Health Agency of Sweden is an agency, which works to promote health, and problem gambling is one of the matters that are on its radar. It is assigned the task to conduct surveys, improve, and disseminate the knowledge of people on the topic. Interestingly enough, excessive gambling is an issue, which was addressed in Sweden for the first time back in 1999, which is not so in many other territories that have now started to awaken to this matter.
One of the latest researches that were conducted to determine the gambling participation rates in Sweden indicates that approximately 100,000 Swedes find it challenging to keep their betting session under control, which is around 2% of the population of the country.
In another report about problem gambling, it is pointed out that there was a huge turnover in the number of people who gamble and this has a negative effect on their life as this portion is now well over 2%. Figures point out that around 5% of the population runs the risk of developing some sort of a gambling problem.
Another thing the research has established is that men who are aged 18-24 are confronted with the most profound difficulties. Matters stand differently with women because those who are middle-aged are more inclined to develop a gambling addiction. What data shows is that the proportion of problem gamblers among men and women has almost doubled when the figures are compared with researches carried out a few years ago.
While trying to determine how common problem gambling is, experts have found that individuals who have a lower income, education, and socioeconomic status are much more inclined to develop such an addiction.
Another thing, which is worth considering is that the number of people who gamble while being at work is also heavily on the rise, and once again, the proportion of men is higher. An increase is also observed in the number of people who have relatives that are facing negative consequences when betting as back in 2008, this was the case with around 260,000 Swedes, and what is alarming is that 76,000 of these were children.
What is rather troubling is that although Swedes need to be at least 18 years to gamble, the number of young problem gamblers is on the rise as well, and even more so with boys who are aged 16-17 years. All these go to explain why the government is constantly looking to come up with limits on betting and find a way to cope with the negative consequences such addictions might have.
Most Recent Changes in Problem Gambling Rates
Things started to change dramatically a few years ago as, for the first time, problem gamblers among women have become twice more than male problem gamblers. The figures were published by the Public Health Agency, and according to them, the gap between male and Sweden’s female gambling addicts has started to disappear, and the share of women with problem addiction has hit 64%.
Just for a comparison, back in 2015, 18% of all problem gamblers were women. The report reveals that gambling patterns have started to change as well, and this is to be ascribed to the increased engagement in gambling activities over the Internet, as well as the introduction of new game forms.
The research also found that female problem gamblers who tend to place their wagers online are more likely to ask for help than male gamblers.
It turns out that women are not that heavily into betting on sports or playing poker as men. Still, this discrepancy no longer exists when betting on bingo is concerned or playing slots or the lottery.
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