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Full citation
Hollén, L. I., Dörner, R., Griffiths, M. D., & Emond, A. (2020). Gambling in young adults aged 17–24 years: A population-based study. Journal of Gambling Studies, 36(3), 747–766. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-020-09948-z
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Region & Target Population
- Region: United Kingdom (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children ALSPAC cohort, Avon area).
- Target population: Cohort members assessed at 17, 20, and 24 years.
Study Design
- Longitudinal cohort study embedded in ALSPAC.
- Three repeated gambling assessments across late adolescence and early adulthood.
Sample Characteristics (with data-collection years)
- Age 17: N = 3,566.
- Age 20: N = 3,940.
- Age 24: N = 3,841.
- Final N = 1,672 completed all three surveys.
- Sex: mixed; males more likely to be weekly/regular gamblers.
Longitudinal Timeline & Waves
- Underlying birth cohort: 1991–1992 births.
- Approximate intervals: 3 years between each wave; 7 years in total from first to last gambling assessment.
- Gambling survey waves:
- Wave 1 – Age 17 (2009–2011).
- Wave 2 – Age 20 (2012–2013).
- Wave 3 – Age 24 (2016–2017).
Measures Used
- Self-administered gambling questionnaire (paper/online):
- Past-year participation (yes/no).
- Frequency (weekly vs less often).
- Types of gambling (lotteries, scratchcards, private betting, online sports betting,horse racing, etc.).
- Covariates and antecedents:
- IQ, locus of control, sensation seeking.
- Parental gambling and maternal education.
- Smoking and alcohol use.
- Depressive symptoms.
Research Question
How common is regular/weekly gambling between ages 17 and 24, and what early individual and family factors predict sustained, regular gambling in young adulthood?
Key Findings
- Past-year gambling participation increased from late adolescence into early adulthood:
- 17 years: 54%
- 20 years: 68%
- 24 years: 66%
- Weekly gambling was highly gendered, especially among males: Male weekly gambling: 13% (17y) → 18% (20y) → 17% (24y).
- Gambling patterns were relatively stable from 20 to 24, with growth in online gambling and horse-race betting.
- Most common forms: scratchcards, lottery, and private betting with friends.
- Predictors of regular gambling:
- Being male.
- Lower IQ.
- External locus of control.
- Higher sensation seeking.
- Parental gambling and lower maternal education associated with regular gambling.
- Regular gambling linked to smoking and frequent/harmful alcohol use, but not strongly related to depression.
Study Conclusion
This study shows that gambling is normalized and established by late adolescence in a UK birth cohort. More than half of 17 year olds had gambled in the past year, and participation rises into the early twenties, with weekly gambling especially common among young men. Once established, gambling behavior is stable over time, suggesting that regular play is not a passing but a continuing pattern in adolescents. The findings highlight a developmental and social profile for regular gamblers: lower IQ, more external locus of control, higher sensation seeking, parental gambling, and lower maternal education all significantly increase the likelihood of weekly play. Regular gambling co-occurs with other health-risk behaviors, especially smoking and heavy alcohol use, further embedding gambling within a risk-behavior pattern.
