Report claims 50% of kids at risk of addiction

A new study has claimed that at least 50% of British children are now at risk of developing a gambling addiction. The report alleges that some children are being exposed to “lookalike” betting content online and that children as young as three are increasingly at risk.

It is the latest report to link the gaming world to that of the gambling industry and to suggest that further legislation is needed to better regulate the role that “loot boxes” now play in the gaming world. The report claims that youngsters are being tempted into gambling by so-called “loot boxes”, a gaming element that invites plays to take a risk without knowing what is inside the virtual crates.  

The report also claims that each year families are losing more than £270million to in-app purchases and video games add-ons with a chink of this money being spent on loot boxes. 

It estimated that 50% of youngsters aged between 11 and 18, were using “loot boxes” as part of their gaming activity. A further tenth of participants had accidently spent money using app. 

During the research it undertook, it found one 16year-old who had spent £2000 on such gaming add-ons. 

In addition, they spoke to a 7-year-old who had spent £100 attempting to “level-up” in one sitting on a puzzle game. He was encouraged to spend the money on casino-style chips, despite the app being used to supposedly improve his maths. 

The survey took results from 500 players across England and Wales. 

The Safer Online Gambling Group has accused the gaming operators of “getting away with murder” with it also finding that yearly, each person spends an average of £600 on such content.  

SOGG was founded by David Bradford, 63, and his son Adam, 26, after the dad was jailed when his gambling addiction racked up huge debts in 2014. 

Adam said: “It is absurd that young people not of legal age to place a bet are exposed to gambling content and insidious addictive gaming from age three. The boy of seven playing his maths game was rewarded at the end with chips that look like ones from a casino. You can exchange them for puzzles and to unlock levels. This lookalike gambling is irresponsible and is preying on youth culture.”

It is now demanding that action be taken and yesterday, it presented these findings to No10.