Adolescent online gambling rates rise in Spain and Argentina

Data from Spain and Argentina reveal a significant rise in gambling among adolescents, driven largely by online platforms. In Spain, the National Observatory on Drugs and Addictions reports that 24.5% of students aged 14 to 18 engaged in gambling in 2025. There is a notable gender disparity, with 34.7% of males participating compared to 14.0% of females. The most popular online activities include roulette (42.0%), sports betting (38.3%), and card games (28.8%).

In Argentina, approximately one in three adolescents has bet money online, with the average starting age being 13. A significant 83% of these activities occur via mobile phones. Experts are conducting training sessions for educators to address this growing issue, emphasizing the need for parental monitoring of digital content to protect minors from addictive online environments.