In Italy, people play more and more, but young people and often very young people are also playing. The latest report from A visit, a trade association for the gambling sector, placed particular emphasis on these two points: the impact of online gaming among minors and the geographical distribution of the land-based sector in the country. This report was subsequently analyzed and developed by Slot Gameswho created several infographics to clarify the key points.
The two years examined are 2023 and 2021 and the differences in the statistics speak of a dangerous trend that should be stopped immediately. If, in fact, years ago, the kids who said they had never played were 94%, last year the percentage, aimed at the same age group, it dropped to 87%. Those who play once or more a week are also increasing (from 1% to 3%), as are those who play two or three times a month, going from 1% to 4% of those who play from 1 to 12 times a year.
Young people are increasingly paying attention to online gaming, obviously facilitated by the great accessibility and availability lack of barriers to entry. For this reason, in recent times there has been a return to talking about measures to combat underage gaming, perhaps making the use of SPID or other forms of digital identity mandatory to prevent the use of gambling platforms by minors. The Sapar report also goes into detail from a geographical point of view and highlights how the game is played more frequently in Central Italy than in the North and South: 6% of young people in Central Italy play once or more a week, compared to 1% in the North and 2% in the South. As can be read in the Giochi di Slot infographic, in the South 90% of young people declare that they have never played online, while in the North and the Center the figure drops to 86% and 85% respectively.
Numbers that also involve Ancona and the Marche, where there is above all a problem of perception. A 2018 research, conducted by the CNR through the studio Gambling Adult Population Survey, stressed that 30% of the population did not know the real age limits and prohibitions related to gambling. 9% think that gambling is prohibited for minors under 14, 4% for minors under 16, 3% even think it is not prohibited and a significant 18% do not know how to answer. According to the research, those who do not know the prohibitions are mostly women and the Sapar research also underlines how girls play more frequently than boys: 6% of the girls interviewed say they play once or more a week, compared to 1% of boys. 80% of girls say they have never played online, while the percentage rises to 93% among boys.
Important numbers that provide a detailed picture of a growing trend, which is worth addressing. To do so, information and communication are needed, raising awareness among the population and guiding users.
