TLDR A Swedish study found 34% of women gamblers aged 18-26 reported a past mental health diagnosis Only 13% of male gamblers reported a similar diagnosis Across all female age groups, the figure was 29% Sweden’s online gambling revenue grew from SEK17.8 billion to SEK18.4 billion in 2026 Digital gambling now makes up 69% of Sweden’s entire gambling market
A new study from Sweden has found that young women who gamble report much higher rates of mental health problems than men who gamble.
The research came from Reflect Företagsutveckling AB, an independent institute. It used Norstat’s consumer panel to survey people across the country.
In total, 3,463 people took part. All of them gambled online or through land-based betting shops.
The results showed a clear gap between men and women. Among women aged 18 to 26, 34% said they had received a mental health diagnosis in the past.
For men, that number was much lower. Only 13% of male gamblers reported having a mental health condition.
Across all women surveyed, regardless of age, 29% reported a past diagnosis.
Online Gambling Keeps Growing
The study comes as online gambling keeps expanding across Sweden.
The Swedish Gambling Authority reported that the gambling market grew by 1.3% in 2026.
Online casino and sports betting revenue rose from SEK17.8 billion to SEK18.4 billion. Digital gambling now makes up 69% of the entire market.
Sweden brought in strict gambling rules after its 2018 Gambling Act. Even with those rules, concerns about young gamblers have not gone away.
Sweden has around 10.7 million people. Roughly 350,000 of them are thought to have some form of gambling addiction.
That puts Sweden near the higher end of gambling rates in Europe, where the average sits between 1.5% and 3%.
Gambling Linked to Coping, Not Just