Youth and Gambling: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

Gambling shows up in more places than many parents realize. They’re seeing sports betting ads on TV and social media. Many of the video games they play include gambling or similar activities. 

Young people are at greater risk of gambling harm and addiction because they are still learning how to make decisions, manage risk and handle pressure. Gambling can feel exciting, but it can also make it harder to stop, especially when someone is chasing a win or trying to win back money they lost.

Understanding these influences can help parents have conversations that make a difference – and support healthier decision-making. 

Sports betting culture

Sports betting can be part of the sports content youth watch and follow. This may include sports broadcasts, odds integrated into games and commentary, sports analysis shows, and discussions about fantasy sports pools.

Social media influencers

Gambling-related content can appear on social media through advertisements, celebrity endorsements, influencer partnerships, and content created by gambling personalities. This can increase the visibility of gambling in youth’s social media feeds.

Video games

Some video games include gambling-like features that can make gambling feel like a familiar part of entertainment. Loot boxes are virtual items that can be purchased or earned in a game and contain random rewards. Players don't know what they'll receive until the loot box is opened. Skin betting involves using virtual in-game items, often called "skins," as currency to place bets on the outcome of games, esports matches, or other events, typically through third-party websites.

Look out for changes that may indicate gambling harms:

• Secretive behaviour: hiding activities, lying about where they've been, or what they're spending money on.
• Mood changes: irritability, withdrawal, or extreme excitement, often tied to winning or losing.
• Neglecting school, friends, or hobbies: dropping grades or losing interest in other activities.
• Constantly thinking about gambling or gaming: talking about it, thinking about it, or planning the next time they gamble or game.

1. Getting Started

Start by asking open-ended questions and listening without judgment.

• Try saying: “In that game on your phone, you pay money (and/or credits) but don't know what you'll get back. Do you think that's fair?“

Teens can get defensive talking about themselves. Try asking about their friends. 

• Try saying: “Do your friends ever make bets? What do you think about that?”

2. Share the facts

1. Gambling is not a reliable way to make money: Games are designed to give the house an edge. Most people lose money over time.
2. People talk about their wins, not their losses: It may seem like the people you know are winning a lot. Keep in mind that people are more likely to share their wins than their losses.
3. Your chances don’t improve by playing more: A losing streak absolutely does NOT mean you’re due for a win. For example, opening 10 loot boxes in a row without a rare drop doesn't make the 11th any more likely to pay out.
4. You can experience harms related to gambling: Players experience a ‘rush’. Over time, some feel the need to gamble more to feel that same ‘high’.
5. Lots of popular online games include gambling: Gambling isn’t just casino games and sports betting. Look out for any games online that involve spending real or in-game money to win random prizes.