An expert has said that children should be suspended from accessing online games such as Candy Crush Saga so that they are protected from becoming gambling addicts when they are older.
As The Daily Telegraph reported, Professor Mark Griffiths has warned that gaming applications create an inclination for betting in children, even if it does not come to betting for real money. According to him, so-called simulated gambling which allows players to win special features or add-ons in the course of play makes the process easier.
Professor Griffiths, who takes the position of director of the Nottingham Trent University’s International Gaming Research Unit, explained that games featuring a simulated roulette wheel should be accessible for adult players only, as a research had shown that simulated games could be considered a risk factor for developing a gambling addiction.
Candy Crush games, for example, offer a feature such as a wheel of fortune which provides players with extra moves or other in-game features. Such games have been downloaded over 2.7 billion times so far, and are frequently played by under-aged individuals.
Our new report on children and gambling trends has revealed that 59% of 11-16 year olds believe gambling is dangerous. Click the link to find out more: https://t.co/CxKqGLca9M pic.twitter.com/l2UEn7qONM
— Gambling Commission (@GamRegGB) November 22, 2018
The warning comes after the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) last week revealed a massive increase in the number of children who spent money on gambling. The industry has been called to be more responsible towards people who play such games and to take further action in order to prevent such players from getting hooked on gambling, especially when it comes to children and more vulnerable individuals.
Number of Children Affected by Problem Gambling Rises
As Casino Guardian revealed last week, the main gambling regulatory body in the UK reported that a massive increase in the number of children between 11 and 16 years of age who regularly gamble online has been registered. According to data provided by the UKGC, approximately 500,000 children aged from 11 to 16 bet regularly online, with the average stake reaching £16.
It also became clear that a sharp surge to 55,000 has also been registered in the number of children described as problem gamblers, with a further 70,000 considered at risk of becoming gambling addicts. Also, at the time of the research, almost 1,000,000 children revealed that they have been exposed to gambling thanks to various online games and applications.
Our new report on children and gambling trends has revealed 66% of 11-16 year olds have seen gambling adverts on TV, 59% on social media and 53% on other websites. Click the link to find out more: https://t.co/CxKqGLca9M pic.twitter.com/Bu8NQvApPw
— Gambling Commission (@GamRegGB) November 23, 2018
According to anti-gambling campaigners, one of the main problems is the fact that politicians have given too much credit to gambling operators, especially because of their willingness to ensure tax revenues flowing into the Treasury. On the other hand, gambling opponents have explained that both gambling companies and competent institutions have been normalising gambling among local residents, and especially children, creating the wrong idea that gambling is completely risk-free, which is not true.
Some anti-gambling campaigners in the country have blamed local authorities for not being more strict to gambling companies, with gambling opponents saying that the UK gambling laws are quite lax for such companies which only fuel gambling addictions.
- Author
Daniel Williams
