Children and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to marketing tactics and this is greatly concerning. Research shows that children as young as eight, are able to easily recall the marketing for sports betting.
It is having a major impact on the way in which young people think about the relationship between gambling and sport. The 'normalisation' of sports betting is posing a threat to Australian teenagers. Children are also being inadvertently exposed to simulated gambling and gambling sites through mobile devices.
With video games being extremely popular, this has the potential to blur the boundary between video gaming and gambling. Research suggests that more than 40 per cent of young people, who have an interest in video games with gambling-like features, will also have a preoccupation with gambling or intend to gamble in the future.
A study conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research, found that up to five per cent of young people in Australia will develop gambling problems before the age of 25.
We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition and we always welcome your feedback. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the school counsellor for further information.
To find out more, go to http://thac.nsw.schooltv.me/newsletter/gambling
Source: SchoolTV