Despite the risk, gambling has always been a common practice in the community. With the recent rise of the online format, accompanied by a large advertising investment, participation in the game is growing exponentially. With it grows the problems associated with gambling, which, according to the Basque Gaming Observatory, especially affects the young population (18 to 30 years).
According to a report by the Basque Autonomous Community’s Youth and Games Report, 24.9% of young Basques have played for money in the past year, with six out of ten players making “easy money”. “. While economic reward is the main reason, other reasons like fun, or companies are also excellent drivers, 58.2% of young people are accompanied by it. “If you see that your friends make money so easily, you’re left behind,” “Get a plan, go with friends, throw in a couple of euros and save time,” suggest some study participants.
When participating in specific groups, there are certain characteristics that differentiate attitudes towards gambling. The sex factor indicates that 36.6% of young Basque women have made a bet in their lifetime, while 60.3% have made a bet. At the same time, the average weekly expenditure of women is also lower than that of men and amounts to € 3.7 and € 17.3, respectively. While the incentive is the same to win money, men and women also have differences in their choice of game. Different age ranges also show specific characteristics, such as the case of young people aged 18 to 22, in which their regular gambling is prominent, with 12% of them playing more than 5 days a week, or 23. Under 26, from which money investment stands out, is the oldest with an average of 30.2 euros per week.
Another finding from the study is that “the lower the level of education, the higher the frequency of play.” 23.6% of young people who continue to play, 13.6% of them five or more days a week. Young people with an intermediate or undergraduate degree, which is 37.9% with an enrollment cycle of 27.3%, invest the most money at an average of € 49.9 per month. People with lower than average university education play in only 17.6% of cases. Roles such as families that promote and normalize common practices such as the Christmas lottery, pools or bingo and advertising are also considered. “Before each game, they always placed three or four advertisements offering to place bets on one or the other company,” the young player suggested.
The danger that accompanies this hobby is the simple possibility of turning into an addiction. According to the Basque Games Observatory, 3.2% of young gamblers experience some kind of gambling-related problem that affects them more or less, with 0.5% of them having serious gambling problems.
Source: El Diario
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
