TEEN GAME GAMBLERS
EXPERTS WARN: Online hits Fortnite and Candy Crush grooming future addicts
POPULAR video games such as Fortnite and Candy Crush simulate gambling games so well experts fear they are steering children toward betting habits and addictions.
The head of Geelong’s leading gambling support services says teens are “actively groomed” to gamble through video games and social media.
Bethany’s manager of therapeutic and children’s services Tracie McPherson said almost a third of Geelong’s Gambler Help clients were aged under 17, who in the worst cases racked up huge debt by stealing their parents’ credit cards to play online games.
POPULAR video games like Fortnite simulate gambling games so well experts fear the gateway games steer children toward betting habits and addictions.
The head of Geelong’s leading gambling support services says teens are “actively groomed” to gamble through video games and social media.
Bethany’s manager of therapeutic and children’s services Tracie McPherson said cult apps Candy Crush, and Fortnite display similar traits to gambling games and effectively “normalise” the habit.
Alarming Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation figures show 80 per cent of young people aged 13-17 gamble, while teens are four times more likely to develop gambling problems than adults.
Ms McPherson said close to 30 per cent of Geelong’s Gambler Help clients were aged under 17, who in the worst cases racked up huge debt by stealing their parents credit cards to play online games.
The worrying statistics have prompted Bethany to host a youth gambling awareness forum instructing Geelong parents how to pick up signs of addiction.
“We talk to children about drugs and alcohol but we don’t talk to them about gambling,” she said.
Ms McPherson said some online games desensitised children to gambling and introduced them to dangerous concepts.
“Games like Fortnite and Candy Crush — what they do is they desensitise young people to gambling,” Ms McPherson said. “You are earning credits — if you earn a certain number of credits, you get something.”
Fortnite — listed as a free video game — sees players virtually battle each other and encourages them to use real money to buy weapons and costumes.
It has been rated as unsuitable for children 12 and under, and suitable under supervision for children 17 and under by the Australian Council on Children’s Media due to violence.
The players — often children — use V-bucks to purchase in-game cosmetic items and some news reports show children have racked up hundreds of dollars of debt playing the game. 1000 VBucks cost $14.99, according to ACCM.
Bethany’s gambling venue support and community educator Carla Scott said gambling issues can lead to an increase in absent days from school or work, poor mental and physical health and possible disconnection from social and family relationships.
Victorian Responsible Gambling foundation chief executive Louise Glanville said children were exposed to “an unprecedented level” of gambling. “Of significant concern is Deakin University research that shows 75 per cent of kids who watch sport think that betting on it is normal,” Ms Glanville said.
Parents and carers can attend the gambling forum at Geelong Performing Arts Centre on Monday from 6pm to 7.30pm.