Teachers and youth workers in the Isle of Wight are being taught how to help young people who have developed harmful gambling habits, with compulsive gambling having risen tremendously during the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2019, the Island of Wight’s Youth Mental Health Census suggested that young people who live here may be especially vulnerable to depression and anxiety, which is often related to compulsive gambling or gaming behaviours. According to reports, this behaviour has deteriorated because of the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdowns associated with it, as the local youth did not have the same school structure or any social clubs or events to attend, which left them with more time to spend on the Internet.
The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM), a gambling charity organisation, has shared an opinion that gaming has begun to overlap with gambling, because both activities are related to the use of mobile devices and involve microtransactions. Both gaming and gambling can be accessed by players quite easily and to some extent involve the excitement associated with so-called loot boxes or other special virtual items. On the other hand, the age ratings in gaming are normally lower than the ones for gambling, which basically means that young people in the Isle of Wight are getting used to the mechanisms of playing and winning at a very young age.
Another popular activity among local people, especially among younger audiences, is e-sports, which have become even more popular during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Younger Audiences Easily Access Gambling Online through Mobile Phones
Unfortunately, for the time being, there is very little local data that shows the number of young people who gamble.
According to the Isle of Wight Council, national data suggests that rising exposure to online gambling advertising, combined with the increased use of various educational and social interaction platforms, has resulted in an increase in gambling participation rates among young people. Recent research has indicated that mobile phones are the most popular way for younger audiences to access gambling, in-play betting and e-sports betting.
Gambling Commission data from 2019 has shown that 11% of children between 11 and 16 years old had spent money on gambling over the last seven days preceding the research. The increasing gambling participation trends are considered a result of the exposure to gambling adverts online, as well as problem gambling.
A survey held in 2019 by the Children and Young People charity organisation showed that 97% of secondary respondents to the poll admitted they have received information on how to stay safe online. Also, 70% of the respondents said they follow that advice whenever they use the Internet. This data, however, was available before the coronavirus pandemic outbreak, with the YGAM saying that trends are now showing an increase in gambling participation among younger people since then.
The fact that, currently, on the Isle of Wight there are no gambling support services especially for young people is also found concerning. Although the YGAM provides help and advice services to teachers, youth workers, and other individuals who work with children, it does not intervene with young people directly.
- Author
Daniel Williams
