A problem gambling expert has raised a red flag, saying that underage individuals are gambling online while playing computer games, often without the knowledge of their parents.
The gambling addiction counsellor at Extern Problem Gambling, Tony O’Reilly, warned that the practice, known as “skin betting”, involves children gambling by encouraging minors to purchase virtual in-game items that help them make faster progress while playing.
According to anti-gambling campaigners, the element of gambling involved in such “skin betting” is the fact that the player does not know the content of the purchased item until after the transaction is finalised. Furthermore, some computer games have an option allowing players to gamble with such items and special skins in return for the chance to win more valuable ones.
According to Mr O’Reilly, currently, there is no clear difference between gambling and gaming in Ireland. Another problem is that players do not really know what item they will get until they pay for it, not to mention that some scientists have said that skin betting stimulates the same brain patterns as regular gambling.
The gambling addiction counsellor further noted there are real casinos within computer games, which offer their players the chance to bet with real money. And parents, who usually purchase such games for their children, often have their credit card details linked to an online account and do not always know when children spend money during their gaming sessions. Mr O’Reilly said this was a significant problem in Ireland that was not seriously discussed so far.
Computer Games’ Skins Could Result in Gambling Addiction
The lengthy coronavirus lockdown has resulted in an increase in both gambling and gaming, so Mr O’Reilly called for parents to be even more careful than usual when it comes to in-app purchases for their children. According to him, the fact that children are able to gamble on computer games is quite worrying, so he sees problem gambling in Ireland as “a ticking time bomb”, as the Independent reported.
The gambling addiction expert, who was once a problem gambler himself, said that the majority of children who gamble on the aforementioned skin betting would not suffer from problem gambling behaviour at a later stage. However, a small percentage of them would develop an addiction that could cost them much when they get older.
As Mr O’Reilly shared, some children face gambling problems at an age as young as 11 and sometimes their parents do not even know that. Some parents are also not aware of the fact their children use their credit cards to make in-game purchases until they get the bill.
As Casino Guardian previously reported, the Irish Government has revealed its intention to establish an operational gambling regulatory body by the autumn of 2021. The change is set to be made as part of stricter new legislation that is planned to regulate the gambling sector, and especially online gambling services, as the currently existing ones, have been assessed as unfit to match the quickly changing environment in the sector.
According to experts, the establishment of a gambling watchdog is very important for the Irish gambling sector, and so is providing adequate professional help and treatment to problem gamblers of all ages.
- Author
Daniel Williams
