Gamifying Finance: Lessons from Gen Z’s Gambling Habits
The article Gen Z Cannot Stop Gambling explores how younger adults are embracing gambling and sports betting as a social and digital experience. For this generation, betting is less about chasing large payouts and more about fun, social engagement, and the seamless digital design of platforms that gamify the experience.
“Research shows that Gen Z – and specifically its male cohort – is leading the way on most gambling and sports betting participation. That’s not to say that Gen Z are devotees at the altar of the cardsharp and the crapshooter. If you happen to find yourself at any sport-inclined pub in student areas on a Sunday afternoon, you will likely find a hyper-focused group of early-twenty-somethings huddled around the almighty deity that is Paddy Power. Séanced around a few Wetherspoons pitchers, these believers pray to the benevolent bookies and footballing gods that their bet-builder on an irrelevant 3pm mid-table Premier League clash pulls through, so that they can enjoy the fruits of their hard-earned labour – another round of drinks. None of them really care about the result, of course, but their fixation is symbolic of the ever-growing love for online betting as a social occasion." (Page, 2025).
"A new national survey by the Gambling Commission found that the 18-24 demographic led all respondents in saying that they take part “because it’s fun” (87 per cent), “to be sociable” (55 per cent), and “because it’s something I do with my friends or family” (58 per cent). Conversely, in comparison to older punters, Gen Z ranked last in interest of winning a large payout." (Page, 2025).
"This normalisation of gambling, of course, has seeds in Gen Z’s native habitat: the internet. Influencers and online streamers have popularised the gamification of gambling. Platforms like Stake and Rainbet have capitalised on the trend of micro-transactions. The game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has a market for in-game skins (essentially, avatar costumes), now worth $4.3bn. And, similar to physical casinos, this digital house always wins, and handsomely so.” (Page, 2025).
What’s striking is how the design of gambling platforms mirrors lessons in banking and financial experiences. Gen Z loves instant feedback, micro-transactions, and the ability to play alongside friends which feels almost like a social game rather than serious betting. From a design perspective, there’s a lot to learn here for banking and fintech as apps that make tasks feel fun, immediate, and interactive can drastically change behavior. But there’s a flip side, this same design power can encourage risky habits if not handled carefully. For banks, the takeaway is clear: understanding what makes Gen Z tick digitally (gamification, social cues, and seamless interactions) can help craft financial tools that are engaging, easy to use, and responsibly designed. It’s a reminder that design isn’t just about how things look, it’s about how they make people feel and act.
References.
Kaysha. (2028). A Casino Table With a Lot of Chips On It [Photography]. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/a-casino-table-with-a-lot-of-chips-on-it-V3qzwMY2ak0
Page, S. (2025, August 3). Gen Z cannot stop gambling. New Statesman. https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2025/08/gen-z-cannot-stop-gambling
Based on Gen Z Cannot Stop Gambling (~40%), combined with my own reflections on design, banking, and user experience (~40%), and text synthesized, structured, and edited with the assistance of AI (~20%). All interpretations remain the responsibility of the author.
