In May 2025, I attended the SNSUS conference in Oslo as part of my professional work. SNSUS (Stiftelsen Nordisk Samarbejde om Uproblematisk Spilbrug) organizes the conference every two years, bringing together professionals working with gambling and digital gaming from across the Nordic countries. The theme of SNSUS 2025 was “The Emerging Gambling Generation: Is Prevention Keeping Up?”. The three-day event included keynote speeches, parallel sessions, workshops, and panel discussions. The topics were approached from a wide range of perspectives. Participants included researchers, peer experts, professionals working in prevention and treatment, as well as authorities. The aim of the event was to increase understanding of the multifaceted nature of gambling harms and to share up-to-date knowledge on how gambling problems are prevented and treated in different countries. (SNSUS n.d.)

At the conference, I gave a presentation in English on recovery capital among concerned significant others. In my presentation, I discussed which factors can support a person who’s loved one struggles with a gambling problem, and how services can strengthen these resources. The concept of recovery capital refers to the resources a person has available to promote and maintain their own recovery (White 2008). I also shared practical examples from my work in low-threshold anonymous services without cooperation with authorities. In these services, identifying and strengthening the individual’s resources is central. After my presentation, there was a discussion about different models for supporting recovery and the differences between countries.

One of the most interesting presentations at the conference was the keynote by Norwegian Helene Kirkeby, who introduced her research on gambling among Norwegian high school students. The study is titled “Gambling spaces: socially motivated gambling in Danish upper-secondary school.” Kirkeby’s research examined youth gambling as a social phenomenon. According to her study, young people often gamble together, in groups of friends, as part of social interaction. (Kirkeby 2024.)

The research revealed that young people do not necessarily perceive their gambling as problematic, even if they spend a lot of time or money on it. Gambling can be a way to spend time in a group, strengthen the community, and belong to a peer group. This poses challenges for early intervention. Among young people, gambling does not appear in the same way as the traditional view of gambling problems. Typically, a person with a gambling problem gambling alone and hides their gambling, often with serious consequences. While gambling-related harm usually shows as financial difficulties, Kirkeby’s research suggests that this is not the right approach when working with youth, as they are aware of and accept monetary losses. (Kirkeby 2024.)

The findings from Kirkeby’s presentation are also relevant in Finland, where gambling legislation is currently being reformed. The planned transition to a licensing system means that the gambling market will be opened more widely to international operators than before. (Valtioneuvosto n.d.) This may affect youth gambling in several ways, for example, through an increase in game offerings, changes and likely intensification in advertising, and potentially greater social acceptance of gambling. It is still difficult to predict how the reform will impact youth gambling behavior in practice, but research like Kirkeby’s reminds us that youth gambling is influenced not only by individual choices but also by group dynamics and the environment. This makes developing early intervention even more important in schools, youth work, and social and health services.

I am currently studying to become an expert in early support (master’s degree in social services), and Kirkeby’s research clearly relates to this perspective. From the point of view of early intervention, it is important to recognize such phenomena early and understand their social context. Focusing solely on individual behavior is not enough if the phenomenon is based on socially accepted group behaviors. Professionals need sensitivity to notice gambling-related dynamics and the ability to engage youth in an open and dialogical manner.

Kirkeby’s presentation and my own speech differed in content, but they shared a common core social relationships can be both risk factors and resources. While connection and support promote the recovery of concerned significant others, the same factors can maintain gambling. This reminds us that understanding these phenomena requires a comprehensive approach in which context and experience are essential.

The conference provided an opportunity to reflect on my own work in relation to the international discussion and to consider how the prospect of early support could be strengthened further in the field of gambling. Experts from different countries highlighted common challenges as well as diverse solutions. Such dialogue offers valuable background for developing one’s own work and practices.

Writer:

Hanna Karmakka-Asare, varhaisen tuen asiantuntija -sosionomi YAMK-opiskelija, Savonia University of Applied Sciences

References

Kirkeby, J. 2024. Gambling spaces: socially motivated gambling in Danish upper-secondary school. International Gambling Studies, 1-14. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/14459795.2025.2467932?needAccess=true. Retrieved 3.6.2025.

SNSUS. N.d. https://www.snsus.org/conference-archive/ Retrieved 1.6.2025.

Valtioneuvosto, n.d. Rahapelijärjestelmä uudistetaan – Vedonlyönti- ja nettikasinopelien markkina avataan lisenssimallilla kilpailulle. https://valtioneuvosto.fi/-/1410869/rahapelijarjestelma-uudistetaan-vedonlyonti-ja-nettikasinopelien-markkina-avataan-lisenssimallilla-kilpailulle. Retrieved 2.6.2025.

White, W. L. 2008. Recovery capital: A primer for addictions professionals. Councelor 9 (5), 22-27. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e8cca3f54b123010e2d5787/t/602d03f55f9f9002e0c73686/1613562869199/Recovery+Capital+-+A+Primer+for+Professio als+%28White+and+Cloud%2C+2008%29.pdf. Retrieved 1.6.2025