New figures from Danske Bank show that Danish men aged 18 to 24 now spend an average of 915 kroner a month on gambling, up from 800 kroner a year earlier.
Danish broadcaster DR reported on September 4, 2026 that the new Danske Bank figures point to rising gambling spending among young men. The average monthly amount for the 18 to 24 age group is now 915 kroner.
That is an increase of 115 kroner in a single year. DR reported the previous figure of 800 kroner a month when it covered young men’s gambling spending in 2025.
Researchers point to everyday exposure
Gambling researcher Emil Lundedal-Hammar of the University of Copenhagen told DR’s P1 program K-live that gambling now appears in far more places than before. He said Danes encounter gambling elements in daily life, from betting ads tied to sports and public transport to features built into apps and video games.
Lundedal-Hammar highlighted so-called loot boxes, where a player pays for a virtual package without knowing its contents. In the same program, 23-year-old Noel Henning said he was first introduced to gambling mechanics at the age of 12 through the game Counter-Strike.
Johanne Kirkeby, also a gambling researcher at the University of Copenhagen, appeared in a separate K-live episode. She said gambling can serve a social function among young men, giving quick access to a group with shared rules, norms and identities.
According to Kirkeby, gambling was more strongly associated with shame and loneliness 50 years ago. In some youth environments today it can carry social status instead, and she argued that the culture itself needs to change.
A political agreement known as Spilpakke 1 is already in place, according to the Danish government, and is intended to limit gambling advertising and protect children and young people. Lundedal-Hammar said politicians should take a further step with a possible Spilpakke 2 addressing gambling-like elements in video games.
