Digital Gambles Undermining Youth: A Look at the Dangers of Online Betting Among Adolescents
Digital gambling, a growing concern in today's digital age, particularly for young people, is presenting a public health challenge. The allure of reward mechanisms in digital gambling, such as "loot boxes" or reward chests, generates a feeling of expectation similar to traditional gambling, facilitating the transition from entertainment to addiction [1].
To combat this issue, a combination of prevention strategies is being advocated. These strategies aim to reduce youth exposure and vulnerability to digital gambling addiction.
Education and Parental Involvement
Educating young people about the risks associated with digital gambling is crucial. Emphasizing the very low odds of winning and the risk of losing money can help young people make informed decisions [1]. Parents play a vital role in this education process, being advised to talk openly with their children about gambling and to avoid gambling openly in front of them [1].
Access Restriction and Screen Time Management
Restricting access to gambling sites and apps, limiting screen time, and setting clear rules around digital activities can help reduce exposure to gambling-related content [1][2]. Parental controls can be used to block or limit access to gambling sites, while limiting screen time and social media use can help reduce overall exposure [1][2].
Promoting Healthy Digital Boundaries
Parents can establish healthy digital boundaries by ensuring that gaming and gambling activities are balanced with outdoor, social, and creative non-screen activities [2]. This balance is essential for preventing problematic use.
Age Restrictions and Enforcement
Legal age restrictions on gambling aim to reduce youth participation. However, enforcement is critical as simply labeling activities as “age-restricted” may not deter youth and could sometimes increase appeal. Combining age restrictions with advertising regulations, warning labels, and education is recommended [3].
Parental Involvement in Gaming
Parents are encouraged to engage with their children’s digital worlds by playing games with them, understanding their gaming habits, and helping them set healthy limits to prevent problematic use [2].
Public Health and Educational Initiatives
Programs supporting national authorities focus on raising awareness and improving responses to the risks of online gambling among youth across multiple countries [5].
Professional Support
Where risky or addictive behaviors appear, early intervention through counseling or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may be warranted to address problematic gaming or gambling behaviors [1][4].
In summary, effective prevention combines early age-appropriate education about gambling risks, parental monitoring and involvement, enforcement of age restrictions alongside advertising and access controls, promotion of alternative activities, and professional help when needed [1][2][3][5]. These multi-level strategies are designed to reduce youth exposure and vulnerability to digital gambling addiction.
[1] Gambling Commission (2019). Youth and gambling: research, evidence and action. Available at: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/193251/Youth-and-gambling-research-evidence-and-action.pdf
[2] Gambling with the Future: Young People and Gambling in the Digital Age. (2017). Available at: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/for-the-public/publications-and-resources/Gambling-commission-research/Gambling-with-the-future-Young-people-and-gambling-in-the-digital-age.aspx
[3] National Centre for Gaming Disorders. (2020). Preventing Underage Gambling. Available at: https://www.ncgd.org.uk/prevention-and-education/preventing-underage-gambling/
[4] YoungMinds. (2018). The link between gambling and mental health. Available at: https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/for-parents/parenting-and-relationships/the-link-between-gambling-and-mental-health/
[5] Council of Europe. (2020). The Pompidou Group. Available at: https://www.coe.int/en/web/pompidou-group/home
- In the pursuit of preventing digital gambling addiction among young people, it's crucial to incorporate mental-health education into sports programs, helping athletes understand the psychological impact of gambling and the importance of maintaining overall health-and-wellness.
- To further strengthen the mental fortitude of youth, integrating gambling addiction prevention strategies into health-and-wellness and mental-health programs can provide comprehensive support, ensuring that young people are well-equipped to navigate the challenges and rewards of modern sports and entertainment.
