‘Free’ games entice kids to buy

THEY’RE the free games kids love playing on their smart phones and tablets but parents are being warned to be vigilant because many are designed to lure children into spending money once they are hooked on the game.

A report by Youth Action, the peak body representing young people in NSW, has revealed that parents and children are often unaware of purchases made within the game, called in- app purchases, until the bill arrives.

Youth Action director of policy Eamon Waterford said a lot of games were designed to encourage overspending once a player was hooked and kids were vulnerable.

‘‘Some of the most popular apps are games that advertise themselves as free but require continual spending to continue playing through the game,’’ Mr Waterford said.

‘‘ This can lead to overspending by children who do not understand they are spending real money,’’ he said.