A new report finds that an increasing number of young boys are getting deeply involved in the activity of gambling (although not all are doing so in the traditional sense with actual cash).
There’s real concern that in-game gambling is connected to creating a long-term habit, which can be costly and damaging. Moreover, many of them are already investing real money in it as early as age 11, and that cash often comes from their parents’ accounts.
Here’s what the study found, and what parents can do to protect their kids.
Gambling Is More Likely To Affect Boys
The Common Sense Media study focused on teen boys, and the statistics that follow will also focus on boys.
That doesn’t mean girls are exempt from the problem, or that parents who only have girls shouldn’t be concerned. However, as a 2016 report published in The Journal of Gambling Studies found, risk-taking behaviors in general are more appealing to males than females, and gambling is no exception. That specific study reported that men who gambled did so on average twice as much as women who gambled, and were more than three times as likely to have trouble stopping. Male study participants also gambled in larger amounts.
In other words, parents should watch for problematic behaviors in teens regardless of gender, but boys are at a higher risk.
So, How Many Boys Is Gambling Affecting?
The report released by Common Sense Media finds that more than a third of boys (37%) between the ages of 11 and 17 said they had engaged in some type of online gambling in the last year, and this rate increases with age. About half of 16- and 17-year-olds (51% and 49% respectively) said they’d engaged in online gambling in the past year.
That’s a pretty significant proportion, especially at the older ages, and around half of them say that they’re getting gambling content in their feeds, whether through algorithms (59%), from a friend sending it (24%), searching for it themselves (14%), or from unknown sources (17%).
Of those who say they watch gambling content, more than a quarter (28%) say that they’ve spent more on gambling than they planned. Only 5% of those who don’t engage with gambling content say the same.
They’re Kids, How Much Are They Really Spending?
The average teen gambler says he’s spent $54 in the past year. However, there’s variation across many factors.
Those who watch gambling content spend more ($72 annually on average compared to $33 for those who don’t engage with gambling content). Those who play more frequently spend more, and those who report bigger losses also spend more.
“Boys who gamble at least monthly spent an average of $68, compared to $33 for those who gamble less than once per month…Boys who reported losses of $51 or more in the past year spent an average of $159—more than eight times the $19 average among those with smaller losses.”
Also, children with larger losses are three times as likely to use a parent’s credit or debit card without permission as those with smaller losses.
How Does Gaming Tie In?
Most of these boys are encountering gambling for the first time through their online games. Two-thirds of boys (67%) who say they gamble online say that they’ve participated in in-game gambling.
It starts with an in-game purchase, maybe even with in-game currency rather than real money. There’s a surprise box to buy, and the loot in it could vary. Your son doesn’t know whether this box will contain basic tools and items for his character, or premium items, but he knows that it could contain something really awesome and useful — so he pays up.
Sometimes, he does get the really awesome item, and that feels really good. For some players, that feeling becomes something to chase.
What Should Parents Do?
Parents should monitor the types of games their children are playing, including any in-game purchases and gambling elements.
If your kids ask you to purchase in-game currency (such as Robux for Roblox) or gaming gift cards, ask what they’re buying. If they’re buying surprise boxes or chances to win items, explain why it is fun and what they’ll get out of it.
Make sure your kids understand the value of real money, and that in-game currency bought with real money still has a cost and value; it’s not just imaginary points.
Talk to your kid about the risks of gambling. It may be okay to purchase a loot box now and then, or to have friendly bets among families on sports teams and related topics, but it can open the door to serious gambling, so keep the conversation open.
About half of boys who admitted to online gambling say that their parents do not set rules regarding this, so make sure that your kids have firm boundaries around what they’re allowed to spend on in-game purchases (even if they’re using their own money) and that they know they are not allowed to use your credit or debit card for online purchases without explicit permission. If they request online funds, find out what they’re buying.
If you see dangerous behavior developing, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling for help. They can guide you on identifying behaviors associated with gambling addiction and help you address it.