Ludomania: gambling addiction manifests itself at a young age
Another study conducted in the UK has found that gambling habits develop and strengthen at a young age, namely before the age of 20. The study was conducted by the University of Bristol. As surveys and analysis of the situation with gambling addiction showed, at least 54% Britons already at the age of 17 use gambling entertainment for leisure.
The study involved young people of both sexes. The total number of respondents was about 14 thousand people. The subjects were divided into three groups: 17-year-olds, 20-year-olds and British 24-year-olds. In the latter group, almost 70% (more precise figures are 68%) suffer from gambling addiction! These are very high figures that make you think.
The most popular entertainment among young people in the UK is not casino gambling, but lotteries and scratch cards. In addition, a fairly large group of respondents said that they prefer to bet on sports. According to UK law, such entertainment is allowed to citizens as early as 17 years old. However, if at 17 only 9% of respondents are interested in online betting, then at 20 it is already 35%, and at 24 years old – 47%.
As scientists have discovered, addiction to gambling can be considered a hereditary disease. However, we are not talking about genetic connections, but about the behavioral habits of parents and other close relatives that are passed on to the younger generation.
Similar studies were conducted in Australia. What is characteristic: the behavior of young people in relation to gambling is very similar despite the fact that they are on different continents. From this we can conclude that any young people are subject to gambling addiction if they have unhindered access to gambling entertainment. With the development of the World Wide Web, this pernicious passion has only intensified, since ludomania is one of the types of Internet addiction, which is almost impossible to get rid of.
