“I REALLY wish there had been a warning that gambling was addictive” – Hannah. These are the words of a young woman who became addicted to online gambling. What started out as a ‘fun’ online pastime for Hannah quickly spiralled out of control and into an addiction that left her anxious, depressed and in debt.
It may be hard to believe but children as young as 12 and 13 are receiving treatment for Gambling Addiction in the UK. The Health Service in the UK have opened and continue to open gambling clinics aimed at treating 13 – 25 year olds following a record number of referrals for treatment.
Whilst there are no figures available for child gambling in Ireland, a 2021 study of gambling trends in Ireland reported a significant increase in gambling across all age groups with the biggest increase seen in young people, particularly males, including young people under 18.
Online and TV advertising coupled with easy access to gambling is driving this increase.
The gambling industry spends millions advertising their products. They do this because the advertising works. Young people are subjected to an onslaught of gambling advertisements on TV, online and social media for both sports-based gambling and casino gambling. All that’s needed for them to take part is a smartphone and an internet connection. Nowadays, the ‘bookies’ is available in your pocket 24 hours a day.
Research has shown that children who are introduced to and begin gambling as a young teenager are four times more likely to develop a gambling problem.
Young people are introduced to gambling in ways we may not be unaware of, for example, through the purchasing of ‘loot’ boxes in video games. Children experience the same emotions that a gambler does when purchasing the loot boxes – the anticipation of the purchase, the highs or lows that follow depending on what’s in the box and the desire to spend more and more to get what they want, the cycle continues. There is no skill involved and the outcome is random, similar, in ways, to scratch cards or casino spins.
There are published studies that show a link between loot box spending and problem gambling.
Social media platforms including Facebook provide casino-style games such as virtual slot machines and poker games. Because the money involved is virtual there are no age restrictions so children of any age can play and learn the rules and habits of gambling. These games will provide more ‘wins’ than real life casino games and are widely considered to be a gateway to real money gambling.
It’s impossible to prevent young people from being exposed to the world of gambling but we can educate them on what gambling is and the harms associated with problem gambling. Have a look at our top tips and start a conversation at home about the world of gambling and its potential harms. Once you start the conversation you can let your children know that gambling is addictive and carries the same risks to a person’s wellbeing as a drug and alcohol addiction does. The gambling industry exists because it makes money, not the gambler.
Top tips for talking to your children about gambling
Make talking about gambling a regular thing
Like all potentially awkward conversations – from online safety to sex – the more you talk about it, the more comfortable you’ll feel. So rather than having one big ‘just say no’ conversation about gambling, it’s a good idea to chat about the risks and consequences regularly, so your child feels comfortable to approach you on the topic. For example, if you’re watching sport together, you could talk about the gambling adverts you see, or if you hear a gambling advert on the radio, you could ask them what they think about it.
Find out more about gambling
A great starting point is awareness of the kind of gambling children are more likely to get involved with, and the harm gambling can do. To learn more, visit the Problem Gambling website: www.problemgambling.ie/ youth-gambling-ireland.html
Ask your child what they think about gambling
It’s a good idea to ask your child what they think about gambling before offering your own opinion. This could be a great way to correct any misunderstandings they may have. For example, they may think it’s ‘just a bit of fun’, or that ‘everybody does it’. Remember that the way you answer any questions may affect how comfortable they feel approaching you in future to talk about gambling so it’s best to make it a discussion not a lecture!
Challenge the adverts
When you come across gambling adverts, encourage your child to think critically about how gambling is represented as fun, exciting and cool. Remind them that behind the adverts is a business looking to make money!
Let your child know that gambling isn’t a way to make money
Talk with your child about how they spend their money, and explain that gambling should never be seen as a way to make money or recover lost money. It may also be helpful to explain that, in the end, “the house always wins”, meaning anyone that gambles is always more likely to lose than win.
Talk about the harms and risks of gambling
Gambling is often made to seem like a normal part of everyday life, without any negative effects. So it’s a good idea to discuss with your child the risks and consequences of gambling. For example, you could talk to them about how they could end up losing a lot of money, or how gambling could have a negative impact on their wellbeing and friendships. Be careful to avoid scare tactics though, as they can often have the opposite desired impact.
Be conscious of your own gambling and its impact
If you gamble, be aware of your influence on your child and discuss with them what it means to gamble safely. If you or someone you live with is experiencing gambling harms, Hospital, Croom and Northside Family Resource Centres provide one to one counselling for anyone over the age of 16 who is struggling with harmful gambling or impacted by the gambling behaviour of another person. For more information contact Brenda at [email protected]
This article was contributed by a member of Parenting Limerick, Brenda O’Keeffe, on behalf of Hospital FRC. Brenda provides supports to people impacted by harmful gambling. You can contact her on 083 2076403 or email [email protected] for support or information. Parenting Limerick IS a network of parenting and family support organisations in Limerick. For more information on this and other topics go to www.loveparenting.ie.