“Parents Should Be Extra Vigilant” Given The “Troubling New Statistics About Teenagers And Online Gambling”

As the predatory Internet gambling industry tries to transform Massachusetts into the new England – where more than half of 16-year-olds have gambling apps on their smartphones and two out of three of those teens say they feel “bombarded” by online gambling ads – Boston’s WBZ-TV has an important warning for parents: “be extra vigilant” given the latest “troubling statistics about teenagers and online gambling.”

…12-percent of teens surveyed had played an online casino game in the past three months…teens who played these games were more likely to participate in gambling for actual cash. Up to half of young people who gambled for money and played online casino games met criteria for problem gambling.

Citing a new study conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – “Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and a world leading research [center] in this field” – WBZ reveals that “nearly 1 in 8 high school students plays social casino games” online, which “may be linked to a higher risk of gambling problems among some teens.” While teens, as the report notes, cannot go into real bricks-and-mortar casinos, games like slots and poker “can be played by anyone on a computer or smartphone.”

FLASHBACK:

  • Earlier this month, The Keene Sentinel‘s Editorial Board also cautioned its readers about New Hampshire’s “addictive” iLottery website, which features “remarkably easy to play” games. (“Expanding Gambling Online: State’s New iLottery Could Be A Boon To Revenues, At A Price,” The Keene Sentinel, 10/7/18)

In case you missed it, watch WBZ-TV‘s warning to parents about teens and online casino games here

…and read the report in its entirety below:

Nearly 1 In 8 High School Students Play Online Casino Games
WBZ-TV
By Dr. Mallika Marshall
October 24, 2018
https://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/10/24/high-school-students-play-online-casino-games/

According to Canadian researchers, nearly 1 in 8 high school students plays social casino games and playing these games may be linked to a higher risk of gambling problems among some teens.

Casinos and gambling websites are off-limits to teens, but free online casino games can be played by anyone on a computer or smartphone. Examples include casino table games, slots, poker and bingo. They don’t involve real money but users can place bets to win points or prizes within the game.

Researchers in Canada found that 12-percent of teens surveyed had played an online casino game in the past three months and that teens who played these games were more likely to participate in gambling for actual cash. Up to half of young people who gambled for money and played online casino games met criteria for problem gambling.

Given the fact that young people spend more and more time on their devices, parents should be aware of the potential risks of certain online games.

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