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Accessibility of Gambling.
Addiction to gambling, the harm it can cause and the impact is has on both individuals and families, is well documented. There are a number of services available to support adults who have gambling addictions. Furthermore, there are growing concerns that children are developing similar addictive gambling traits.
Nowadays, gambling is widely accessible and can be done in a variety of ways. From betting shops, to gambling apps, online casinos to social media competitions. It is hard to avoid being exposed to gambling advertisements or forms of gambling promotion.
When I was a teenager, social media, online gambling and videos games, were only just being introduced. Consequently, I did not have the exposure to the gambling world that a lot of children have nowadays. However, there were still ways in which we gambled as children!
Pigeon Toss!
“Pigeon Toss” was our gambling sport! Those who are unfamiliar with Pigeon Toss, it involves throwing coins up against a wall from a set distance. Whoever threw their coin closest to the wall, won all the coins. My whole tutor group in school would play outside our classroom each morning, usually with 10p coins. I remember one time someone played with a £1 coin, we all went crazy, like he was some sort of high roller. However, that was until he threw the coin and it rolled down into a drain, which was hilarious to us all.
Thinking back, I am sure that some of you may have similar memories of gambling as children form from time to time. The difference between my childhood and the present day, is that the addictive feeling that gambling generates in people, is now actually being utilised in the gaming world with children.
Features in Games that Promote Children Gambling.
A lot of children will spend a large amount of time playing videos games, whether it be by themselves or online with their friends. It is one of the ways that this generation of children socialise. Seemingly, gone are the days of children knocking on doors to see their friends. It is now the new norm that children send a message or send an invite to their friends online, to play a game together. Children enjoy playing these games, they get to enjoy socialising with friends, all in the comfort and safety of their homes.
With the number of games children play and the frequency that new games are released, it is hard for parents to keep up with what their child is doing or playing. Children will frequently ask their parents for money to buy a new game. However, what is becoming more common, is children asking for money to make purchases within games.
How Much Do You Know About the Games Your Child is Playing?
There is a growing culture in video games of promoting “in game purchases”. Generally, this is in the form of buying “points”, which the child can then spend within the game. Examples of which are “FIFA points” for FIFA football games, or “V-Bucks” for Fortnite. I have had conversations with a lot of parents who have told me that their children ask for vouchers for these points for Christmas/Birthday presents. You may even see these vouchers hanging at supermarket checkouts…keep a look out.
What are These “Points” Being Spent on?
It varies from game to game. But the majority of these games are giving you the CHANCE to earn additional or better items that can be used within the game. For example, FIFA points are mainly used to buy player packs. These players can then be used when playing the game. Naturally, every child wants the best players because it looks better for them.
It is seemingly getting to the point, where how good of a team you have or how good your character is in a game, is directly linked to your social status. This can be a huge motivator or pressure on a child. You spend these FIFA points on a pack, cross your fingers and hope you get better players. The vast majority of the time you don’t and the money is gone. The same way you put a bet on and hope for a positive outcome.
The Rabbit Hole
“I distinctly remember the frustration, having just spent £10/15/20 and then having nothing to show for it. Immediately afterwards, I would check my bank balance and buy more…with the same result.”
Unfortunately, in the past I have been down the rabbit hole of buying FIFA points. Around the age of 16/17 years old, I was working part time. More often than not, I would spend the majority of my income on buying FIFA points. As a result, I distinctly remember the frustration, having just spent £10/15/20+ and then having nothing to show for it. Immediately afterwards, I would check my bank balance and buy more…with the same result.
That feeling of losing your money, all for nothing, was toxic. A feeling which is quickly overwhelmed with the feeling of, “I need more money to buy more”, with the goal of trying to win and make it all worthwhile. Looking back, I was addicted to it and I would class it as gambling.
Furthermore, Fortnite has a similar system, buying “V-Bucks” to buy “Loot Boxes” which contain better items for your character. Again, there are no guarantees that you get anything you want.
Addiction.
I have experienced it myself and I have seen it in children across different age ranges. In my work with families, I have had stories from parents, of children using their parent’s bank cards to buy huge amounts of these points, without the parent’s knowledge. This culture in games, can create addictive tendencies as children are essentially gambling regularly.
There have been a number of research and news articles written on the concerns around “Loot boxes” in games. Click the links for recent posts from The Guardian and The Independent.
This early exposure to that risk/reward behaviour, combined with the ease of access there is to the gambling world today, can risk serious gambling addictions when these children become adults. On the other hand, I am certainly not saying this is happening to every child because the reality is, a lot of children and parents may not have any issue with this aspect of gaming.
If You are Worried…
On the other hand, if you are worried as a parent, I think it would be helpful to firstly increase your awareness of the games your children are playing. Ask yourself, what is the money being spent on in games? Are you worried that your child has an addiction to purchasing these game points? Do they frequently ask for money to buy these points? Do they react in a highly emotional way if you refuse to buy them more?
These may be some signs that intervention may be helpful. This could be in the form of moderating how many points are bought or completely stopping points being bought altogether. That is your call as their parent because it will depend on how worried you are, or how serious you feel the issues are. Furthermore, there are some links to helpful websites below.
If you are worried, increasing your insight into how much/little exposure your child has to this form of gambling, is an excellent starting point. Therefore, find out more about how the points are being spent by your child, because you can then make a better judgement as to whether or not there is anything to worry about or not. It is likely the case that most children enjoy a healthy experience of playing games with friends. Above all, just be aware that these games can cultivate addictive behaviour traits in children, because the earlier you spot it, the better.
Questions for the comments: Were there any gambling games you played as a child?
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Useful links:
Gambling support for young people – Gambling commission
Gambling support for young people – Be Gamble Aware