According to a recent Norwegian study for young people between 12 and 17 years of age, there is a significant correlation between video games and the high incidence of youth gambling. The study noted, inter alia, that there were significant risks associated with the purchase of game trophy boxes and the behaviour of game skin bets.
The study, which was conducted in 2025 by the Spilforsk Research Centre of the University of Bergen under the leadership of Professor Stalle Parerson, surveyed 9,000 adolescents. The data show that 27.7 per cent of respondents in the past year have purchased game trophy boxes, 29.4 per cent have purchased game skin and 15.5 per cent have participated in skin gambling. The study found that 18.8 per cent of respondents had been involved in gambling over the past year and that there was a clear gender difference: 27.7 per cent of men and 9.3 per cent of women participated. There is a similar trend in the purchase of trophies, with 45 per cent for men and 9 per cent for women. The risk of play addiction and gambling problems among young people involved in these activities has increased significantly.
The study also revealed a number of risk factors associated with play and gambling issues, including bullying at school, poor health, low satisfaction with life, exposure to alcohol, tobacco and functional beverages, and lack of parental care. Overall, 7.1 per cent of respondents met the criteria for gambling and 15 per cent had video games. The Spilforsk study is not the first to reveal the link between in-play and gambling. Earlier this year, research at the University of Sydney found that the consumer function in the Roblox game confused children ‘ s perception, and many parents and children compared the buying behaviour in the game to gambling. Professor Parerson pointed out that simulated gambling behaviour exposes young people to gambling environments, teaching them gambling techniques and creating a distorted perception that “winner is easy”. He stressed, however, that the problems would be particularly acute when these adolescents grew up to be exposed to other forms of gambling.
Atale Hammar, Director of the Norwegian Lottery and Foundation Administration, stated that gambling activities such as trophy boxes and skin gambling were the entry point to gambling, and he expressed concern that this could exacerbate the problem of gambling among young people and stressed the high risk of such games to underage groups – – There is a high level of addiction and a violation of the existing age limit of 18 years.