Youth gambling as risky business: An examination of risk perception and perception of skill and luck among Danish adolescents

This study reports the findings from a national survey on gambling behaviour among students in Danish primary schools, with a special emphasis on risk perception, perceptions of skill and luck, and irrational beliefs. Two thousand two hundred and twenty-three (2,223) primary school students ranging in age from 11 to 17 years completed a questionnaire containing a gambling screen (SOGS-RA) and items measuring gambling behaviour, social networks, and cognitive perceptions. The results showed that the more frequently the individual gambles, the less risky he or she perceives gambling to be. Compared to females, males were less likely to regard frequent gambling as a risky activity, and had more confidence in their own gambling skills. The implications of the findings for further research and preventive measures are discussed.