Research - Emerging Adults

A curated journey through what the world’s research is revealing about young adulthood, risk, identity, and the digital gambling era.

Welcome to the Global Research Hub on Gambling in Emerging Adults

Emerging adulthood is one of the most dynamic and complicated periods of life. It is a time of exploration, independence, identity-building and increasingly, a time shaped by rapid digital change. As smartphones, online gaming, sports betting, and social media blend into everyday life, young adults across the world are encountering gambling in ways no previous generation has.

This hub brings together the most important research from around the world to help you understand how and why gambling has become so woven into the lives of 18–25-year-olds and what we can do about it.

Across different sections, we explore not just the “numbers,” but the stories behind the numbers: the psychological mechanisms, cultural forces, digital designs, inequalities, and policy decisions that shape young people’s experiences.

Each section answers a different part of the bigger question:
Why does gambling look the way it does for today’s emerging adults?

Learn what each of them represent:

Global Prevalence
Where and how much are young adults gambling?

Articles with this tag explain how common gambling is among 18–25 year olds worldwide. Each study summary includes the country, age group, and main findings in simple language. Together, these studies show where young adults gamble more or less, what types of gambling are most common, and why emerging adulthood is a key risk period

Cross-Regional Comparisons
Why and how do countries differ?

Gambling is shaped by culture, policy, technology, and economic conditions. Here, you can compare regions and understand why some young adults face more risk than others and how global systems create different gambling landscapes.

Forms of Gambling
What exactly are young adults doing?

From sports betting and online casinos to loot boxes and esports gambling, today’s gambling ecosystem is fast, digital, and immersive. Here you’ll learn which products dominate youth gambling and why some are much more harmful than others.

Explore the Research Hub

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Cross-Regional Comparisons

Global Review of Problem Gambling: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (Dowling et al., 2024)

2024
Global
North America
Europe / The Middle East
Asia / The Pacific
Africa
Help us understand gambling in young people

Emerging adults and college students face increased risk of gambling, especially online. Social, emotional, and financial factors raise their vulnerability. Help us understand this issue by sharing the survey.

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