Gambling Progression in Young Adults Following Online Casino-Gambling Legalization in Switzerland

This study investigates gambling behaviors among young Swiss males four years after the legalization of online casino gambling in Switzerland. A total of 2,349 conscripts aged 18 to 24 years, residing in the French-speaking region of the country, completed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire assessing their participation in land-based and online gambling, as well as problem gambling. Overall, 70.6% reported having gambled at least once in their lifetime, and 49.8% had gambled in the past 12 months. Among past-year gamblers, 58.3% engaged exclusively in land-based gambling, 34.4% were mixed (land-based and online) gamblers, and 7.3% gambled exclusively online. The majority (74.7%) accessed online gambling via smartphone or tablet. Among past-year gamblers, 4.4% met the criteria for problem gambling, representing 2.1% of the total sample. Problem gambling was associated with more frequent gambling, engagement across both online and land-based platforms, participation in a greater variety of games, and involvement in online casino gambling. In conclusion, four years post-legalization, we observe increased gambling participation, a shift from land-based to online gambling, and a slight, non-significant increase in problem gambling. Continued monitoring of gambling behaviors in this population is essential to detect and respond promptly to potential increases in problem gambling.