Italy is facing a growing crisis of underage gambling, with new data revealing that 45% of adolescents have engaged in gambling—placing the country at the top of the European ranking. The latest figures, released through the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) and national health authorities, paint a troubling picture: while traditional substance use is declining among Europe’s youth, gambling—especially online—is rising sharply, with Italian teens leading the trend.
The most recent identifies Generation Alpha (those born from 2010 onwards) as particularly vulnerable. While alcohol, drugs, and tobacco use are on the decline across much of the continent, gambling is rapidly filling the void, especially in Italy, where nearly half of students aged 15 to 19 admitted to gambling at least once in 2023.
“Italy has the highest prevalence of gambling among students (45%), followed by Iceland (41%) and Greece (36%), while the lowest prevalence is observed in Georgia (9.5%),” reveals the report.
Girls more involved than ever before
The numbers tell a surprising story: teenage girls are gambling more than ever before. While boys are still more likely to gamble overall (29% compared to 16%), the rate of girls gambling online has more than tripled since 2019—from just 2.7% to 8.7%. At the same time, girls are also picking up other risky habits, like smoking and spending excessive time on social media, pointing to a wider trend in behaviour that’s raising red flags among experts.
These trends have sparked concern among experts and authorities, not least because over 120,000 adolescents are already considered to be at pathological risk. Diagnoses of gambling disorders have grown by 15%.
Social media and online access fuel the trend
Experts point to the role of social media and digital platforms in making gambling more accessible and normalised. With online gambling participation nearly doubling since 2019—from 7.9% to 14%—there is a growing consensus that the digital environment is a key contributor to the rise in addiction among youth.
Corecom Calabria launches civil response campaign
In response to this escalating public health issue, Corecom (Regional Committee for Communications) Calabria has launched a nationwide campaign to protect minors from gambling-related harm. The initiative, which begins today in Reggio Calabria, is a collaboration between the local medical association and regional health authorities.
“No alliance excluded, no voice marginalised,” said Corecom representatives Fulvio Scarpino, Mario Mazza, and Pasquale Petrolo.
The campaign will roll out through a series of meetings that bring together teachers, doctors, youth workers, and community groups. The plan is to keep a close eye on gambling ads targeting minors, call out harmful content on social media, and give families and schools practical tools to help prevent addiction.
“To distinguish play from trap, freedom from addiction, we must educate for critical thinking, monitor the digital space relentlessly, and stand united in this fight,” the committee concluded.
