Conquer the future with a scratch card: for one million and 300 thousand young people, the game is worth the candle, at least once in a while.
This is what Nomisma reveals, which on the subject of young people and gambling has created an Observatory, the Young Millennials Monitor and conducted a survey in collaboration with the University of Bologna, interviewing 14 teenagers (14-19 years), in the year school year 2014-2015.
The research shows that Italy is a country of gamblers: 24 million people challenge their luck at least once a year, 6 million once a week; a mass of people for a mass of bets, equal to 84,5 billion euros in 2014, -0,3% compared to 2013, but +100% compared to 2007.
A mind-boggling figure, which largely returns to the pockets of those who spent it (67 billion); but which in any case produces net inflows of 17,5 billion (8 billion for the Treasury) and accounts for 1,1% of GDP.
The numbers show that it is a "social phenomenon of very vast proportions", which inevitably also affects the youth world.
Over the last year, writes Nomisma, 54% of students have tried their luck at least once, however limiting spending to three euros a week (74%). Boys play out of curiosity (30%), by chance (23%), because friends do it (14%).
A scratch card is enough for the thrill (38% bought at least one during the year), but there are also sports betting agencies (25%) and online games of skill (20%). Compared to a few years ago, Lotto and Superenalotto have lost their appeal.
28% of respondents have experienced one or two types of gambling; 14% three or four; 12% arrived at 5, "since it denotes a worrying recursion".
10% of students are "frequent players", i.e. they played once a week or more frequently in a year; for others, gambling is an occasional pastime.
The budding player is male (63%), but also female (43%), Southern (64% South and Islands) or Northern (43%), of age (61%), but also a minor (51%): the its schools are technical institutes (60%); professional (59%), high school (49%). The propensity to gamble is higher (63%) if the habit is learned in the family.
The young player is a bit more of a donkey, but not in a striking way: among those with a low level of mathematics the percentage is 68%, against 50% of those with an evaluation higher than 8/XNUMX.
Gambling has already created some trouble for some: 29% have hidden or reduced their habits from their parents; 4% waived school commitments; 7% had arguments with family, friends or problems at school.
The awareness that gambling can become addictive is widespread, 87% of young people are aware of it. But that's no reason to let your guard down. On the contrary: "it is necessary – concludes Nomisma – to further strengthen the initiatives of information and protection of the most sensitive targets".
