The Council of Europe’s rights watchdog is stepping up to address the growing issue of online gambling and gaming, especially among young people. With these activities becoming more popular, the 46-member bloc have launched a new project at a two-day conference in Rome, Italy, to help countries tackle the problem.
Leading the effort is the Pompidou Group, a team of experts from 14 member states that focuses on anti-drug and addiction policies. In a 2024 report, the group pointed out that gambling and gaming products are intentionally designed to be as immersive and addictive as possible. They’re currently working on solutions to curb the risks and protect players.
Putting #HumanRights at the heart of drug and addiction policies: the @PompidouGroup ministerial conference in Lisbon will assess impact of current trends in drug use and addictions, including online internet betting and gambling. https://t.co/5C7Sn2zJYc pic.twitter.com/kEjQD8wbcd
— Council of Europe (@coe) December 9, 2022
Cited by AFP, Orsolya Kiraly, a researcher at the Institute of Psychology at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, shared her insights at the conference. She said: “It is only a minority (of adolescents) who experience addiction-like symptoms.
“But in these cases these lead to severe negative consequences and functional impairment.”
Kiraly explained that excessive online gambling and gaming can be especially harmful to children since their brains and personalities are still developing. She pointed out that the risks go beyond just screen time as kids can face mental and physical health issues, including family conflicts, sleep problems, unhealthy eating habits, and even poor hygiene.
Young people at risk of online gambling addiction due to gaming
The 2024 study revealed that the risk of problem online gambling among adults ranges from 2.7% to 6.5%, while among adolescents, despite age restrictions, it still sits at around 1%. Younger age and being male are consistently linked to a higher likelihood of online gambling issues.
The report suggests that gambling and gaming are becoming more intertwined. Gambling platforms are adopting video game-like features to make them more engaging (the “gamification of gambling”), while video games are increasingly incorporating gambling mechanics (the “gamblification of gaming”).
They point out that this is especially concerning for minors, who are being heavily targeted, yet there are almost no regulations in place to protect them. The researchers state that the video gaming industry itself remains largely unregulated, and online environments, in general, lack proper oversight, which leaves young players particularly vulnerable.
With the gaming industry booming, countries are scrambling to get their share of the action. According to PWC, the sector is expected to generate over $300 billion in revenue by 2028, making it a hot commodity on the global stage. Italy said to be home to one of the world’s biggest gambling markets, with spending reaching 148 billion euros ($125 billion) in 2023, up from 89 billion euros in 2012. That said, France is also attempting to legalize several online casinos.
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