Are you worried about how gambling may be affecting you?
Gambling is an issue for many young adults these days. You may bet every now and then, but you have to be careful because gambling can be risky. Some young adults who start gambling for fun and excitement end up gambling too much.
To protect yourself, it’s a good idea to learn more about the risks of gambling. This can help you make informed decisions about your gambling and look out for the warning signs that you might be betting too much. If you’re worried about your gambling, there are many steps you can take.
Are you worried about how gambling may be affecting a young adult?
Many people don’t think about gambling as a problem for young people. But gambling is an issue for some young adults these days. Many young adults bet every now and then, but it’s important to be aware of gambling’s potential risks. Unfortunately, some young adults who start gambling for fun and excitement end up gambling too much.
As a parent, other family member or friend, you can help protect a young adult in your life by learning more about the risks of gambling. This can help you to support them to make informed decisions about their gambling and look out for the warning signs that they might be gambling too much. If you’re worried about a young adult’s gambling, there are steps you can take to support them during this time.
Are you worried about how gambling may be affecting a young adult?
Many people don’t think about gambling as a problem for young people. But gambling is an issue for some young adults these days. Many young adults bet every now and then, but it’s important to be aware of gambling’s potential risks. Unfortunately, some young adults who start gambling for fun and excitement end up gambling too much.
Youth gambling is a concern for many health and other professionals. You can help protect young adults by learning more about the risks of gambling. This can help you support them to make informed decisions about their gambling and look out for the warning signs that they might be gambling too much. If you’re worried about a young adult’s gambling, there are steps you can take to support them during this time.
How much do young adults gamble?
Gambling among young adults is common. Australian state and territory gambling prevalence surveys show that about one-third to one-half of young adults aged between 18 and 24 gamble each year and about 75% have tried gambling at some point in their lives. For these young adults, the most common forms of gambling are poker machines, lotteries, race betting, and sports betting. Other popular gambling activities include instant scratch tickets and casino table games. This research shows that while most young adults gamble without experiencing harm, up to 4% will develop issues with gambling, and up to another 30% are at-risk of developing issues. These rates are higher than those for older adults.
Which young adults are most at risk?
Young men are most at risk of experiencing harm from their gambling. Research [LINKS ] shows that young adults also at risk also include those who:
- started gambling at an early age
- have experienced family conflict
- have family members or friends who also gamble
- do more than one type of gambling
- experience anxiety or depression
- display risky or impulsive behaviours
- have difficulties paying attention
- have high levels of alcohol or substance use
- have family members or friends who have high levels of alcohol or substance use
- are exposed to a high volume of gambling ads
- have higher levels of disposable income.
Why are young adults at risk?
Research shows that young adults are influenced by a range of factors, including their being more likely to make risky bets, gambling availability, being vulnerable after achieving independence, the influence of their parents and friends, and advertising.
Young adults may have a harder time understanding the risks associated with gambling compared to older adults. This is because the parts of our brains that are responsible for decision-making, planning, and prioritising don’t finish developing and maturing until our mid-to-late 20s. This means that young adults can be more impulsive and make riskier bets.
It’s easy for young adults to access gambling options, especially through online platforms. This convenience and availability increase the chances that they will experience harm from their gambling.
Being able to legally gamble coincides with jobs, increased disposable income and financial independence. Young adults are most at risk of experiencing gambling harm as they adjust to these freedoms. There is often a decrease in gambling later in life as people experience gambling losses, encounter fewer ‘new’ or novel gambling experiences, and have increased responsibilities and overheads.
Family dynamics and upbringing can play a role. Growing up in a family where family members often gambled increases the chances of people experiencing harm from gambling themselves as they become young adults.
Young adults who have friends who gamble are more likely to get involved in gambling. Additionally, feeling a strong sense of belonging to online communities has also been linked to increased gambling participation and the potential for harm.
Young adults are frequently exposed to gambling ads while watching sports and racing events. These ads are also widespread on the websites, apps, and social media platforms that young adults use. These ads often target young adults to make them believe that gambling is a normal and enjoyable activity. This can influence them to participate in gambling and increases the likelihood they’ll experience gambling harm.
There are many reasons why it can be very easy to lose more time and money than you can afford when you’re gambling online. To find out more, see our section Online Gambling.
To find out more, see our section on Gaming.
What are the signs of a gambling issue in young people?
Clinical signs of a gambling issue in young adults are similar to those for older adults. These include:
- needing to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement
- becoming restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop gambling
- making repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling
- often thinking about gambling – like reliving past gambling, planning future gambling or ways to get money to gamble
- often gambling when feeling distressed – like feeling helpless, guilty, worried, or depressed
- often gambling to try to win back the money that has been lost – this is called chasing losses
- lying to hide gambling
- risking or losing a close relationship, a job, or a school or work opportunity because of gambling
- relying on other people to help with money problems caused by gambling.
Having one of these signs doesn't automatically mean that you have issues with your gambling. But there is the possibility that you may have an issue if you show several signs.
There are many other signs that might indicate that you’re experiencing harm from gambling. There may have been changes in your behaviour, mood, relationships, finances, or work. Difficulties with gambling can impact various aspects of your life. To find out more about some other signs to look out for, see our section on Signs of a Problem.
Still not sure? Take the Quiz to see if you might have an issue.
Do you want more help?
Recognising that you may have an issue with your gambling can be upsetting. But there are services and support available at no cost that can help you get the situation under control.
To find out what supports are available for you, check out Support for Young People who Gamble.
To find out more about your gambling, chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Having one of these signs doesn’t automatically mean that your family member or friend has issues with their gambling. It’s possible that there are other things going on in their life. But there is the possibility that they may have an issue if they show several signs.
There are many other signs that might indicate that your family member or friend experiencing harm from their gambling. There may have been changes in their behaviour, mood, relationships, finances, or work. Difficulties with gambling can impact various aspects of a young adult’s life. To find out more about some other signs to look out for, see our section on Signs of a Problem.
Still not sure? You could ask your family member or friend to take the Quiz.
Discovering that a young adult you are close to is facing difficulties with their gambling can be challenging, and it's natural to be concerned. At the same time, it can also bring relief to finally understand the situation. Before approaching them to talk about it, it's a good idea to take some time to develop a plan. You can find guidance on this in our section on Starting the Conversation.
Do you want more help?
To find out how to support young adults who gamble, check out Support for Young People who Gamble.
To find out more about gambling in young adults, you or your family member or friend can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members or friends like you. It’s not only the person who gambles that can be affected, but the people close to them too. It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re supporting someone else. Check out the family and friends section in our peer support community to connect with people who understand.
Having one of these signs doesn’t automatically mean that the young adult you’re working with has issues with their gambling. It’s possible that there are other things going on in their life. But there is the possibility that they may have an issue if they show several signs.
There are many other signs that might indicate that a person is experiencing harm from their gambling. There may have been changes in their behaviour, mood, relationships, finances, or work. Difficulties with gambling can impact various aspects of a young adult’s life. To find out more about some other signs to look out for, see our section on Signs of a Problem.
You may be able to support the young person you’re working with in your professional capacity. If they’re displaying signs of a problem, you could ask them to take our Quiz.
Having a better understanding of their gambling can help you make decisions about the most appropriate steps to take. As a professional, you may be well-positioned to have a discussion with them, offer practical strategies or facilitate their access to support services. For more information, see our section on How Professionals can Help. With your guidance and support, they can get control over the situation.
Do you want more help?
To find out how to support young people who gamble, check out Support for Young People who Gamble.
To find out more about gambling in young adults, you or the person you’re working with can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members, friends, and professionals like you. It can be hard for professionals to support people with gambling issues. To learn more about how you can help, go to our section on How Professionals Can Help.
