Gambling is increasingly attracting the attention of teenagers in Poland, with recent studies showing a significant rise in the number of adolescents engaging in potentially harmful gambling behavior.
In recent years, the focus of addiction prevention efforts for youth in Poland has shifted from alcohol and drugs to new technologies, with gambling emerging as a significant issue hidden under the guise of harmless online entertainment. Experts warn that gambling is no longer just an adult problem but is now infiltrating the daily lives and habits of young people through their phones and gaming—making it more pervasive than it appears.
Recent findings from the European ESPAD 2024 study indicate that the percentage of 15-16-year-olds exhibiting a 'potentially harmful gambling profile' has nearly doubled in the past few years, increasing from 4.7% in 2019 to 8.5% in 2024. Alarmingly, about 23% of adolescents across Europe report having gambled for money in the past year. This troubling trend is mirrored in Poland, where a growing number of teenagers are engaging in gambling activities, raising concerns among health experts and policymakers alike.
Dr. Artur Malczewski, deputy director for Treatment, Research, and Certification at the National Center for Counteracting Addiction, highlights the urgency of addressing this emerging trend among youth. He advocates for more robust measures to recognize and curb gambling behaviors in young people, as societal awareness and preventive measures lag behind the rapid rise of gambling in this demographic. Without intervention, the consequences could lead to long-term addiction issues and social problems in the future.
