Gambling

The issue of gambling and young people is evident with an increase in media coverage as well as our own concerns. Whether  it be the addictive nature of loot boxes found in gaming aimed at some of our youngest individuals or also for young adults at university seeking a way out of debt and mounting tuition fees.

Gambling is a health issue. Its addictive qualities easily enthuse and capture individuals into a cycle of debt.

With online games, often initially free to the user, children are spending money through ‘micro transactions’ with a chance to get the thing they really feel they need. The more they spend, the greater opportunity they have. But of course these ‘loot boxes’ are not random and the gamer may never get hold of the thing they need. For students struggling in a time where jobs are less available and the cost of basic items are going up, gambling can feel an attractive option, particularly with their introductory offers of free bets or an amount of money to get you started.

Understanding the mechanics of gambling is essential for young people, particularly as it is so accessible. Even though micros transaction for loot boxes is not  considered gambling by law, they utilise the same temptations of gambling… the chance to win.