Wang Jimin
Wang Jimin
[New Sancai Compilation and First Release] Do you think your children will not be exposed to gambling? Don't bet on luck. Sarah Clark, co-director of the CS Mott Children's National Poll on Children's Health, said: "Teens and young adults may have a hard time getting into a casino without being noticed, but it's easy for them to get access to a variety of bets. and gambling options." "This expanded access increases the risks of underage gambling, yet there is little regulation or dialogue around the issue."
Only a quarter of parents who took part in the latest poll said they had talked to their children about virtual gambling.
More than half of participating parents didn’t know the legal age for online gambling in their state, and one in six said they might not know if their children were gambling online.
Following a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, more than half of states have legalized some form of online gambling. Most regulations only allow online sports and casino betting for those 21 or older, but loopholes exist and there are concerns teenagers could bypass security steps.
Clark compared online sports betting to the fantasy football leagues and crazy pools that are popular among sports fans, including kids.
"Many online gambling options may seem familiar to teenagers," Clark said. "They feel like the games kids play on their phones, including features like bonus points and rewards. This familiarity may make it harder for teens to understand the difference between playing for fun and playing for money."
The nationally representative poll was based on responses from 923 parents with at least one child aged 14 to 18.
A total of 2% of respondents said they believed their children had used online betting platforms, and more than half of the respondents said they thought they would definitely know whether their children had used online betting platforms.
Two-thirds said their children had a bank account or debit or credit card in their own name that could be used to sign up for online betting, increasing the likelihood that they would participate without their parents' knowledge.
"Parents may underestimate their children's interests and understanding," Clark said. "Online betting can be difficult to detect because teens can easily log into their smartphones or other personal devices, delete their search history, hide the app or use it alone."
Online gambling is widespread. More than 60% of parents said they had heard or seen advertisements for online sports or casino betting.
Young people who participate in adult-targeted sports or gaming apps may also see gambling ads. Clark noted that these ads often feature popular entertainers or athletes and often offer bonuses for continued use.
"Teenagers may be particularly susceptible to these ads, which are often designed to convey excitement, limitless possibilities and social credit," she said.
Many parents are concerned about the risks of teenage gambling.
Two-thirds of the respondents said that 21 should be the legal age for online gambling. 22% thought it was 18-20 years old, while 11% said it should be illegal at any age.
Respondents expressed concern about teenagers becoming in debt or addicted to gambling. 25% of parents have talked with teenagers about online gambling and are concerned about these risks.
Some said they supported strategies to minimize risk, including limiting betting after a certain amount of loss; offering a "parental view" option to monitor online betting accounts; using photo ID to verify legal age at registration; restrictions Betting for a certain period of time; paying for treatment for young people suffering from gambling addiction.
Talk to your kids, Clark urges.
"The ubiquity of gambling ads may provide an opportunity for parents to have open, productive conversations with their teens about the risks of gambling and its prevalence in their social circles," she said. "Whether or not the kids are actually doing it. Using gambling platforms, ongoing discussion may help them cope with the social pressure and media influence of gambling platforms.”
(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)
(Editor: Jiang Qiming)
(Source of the article: First published by Xinsancai)
