Recently, a new trend has taken Canadians by storm: online gambling.
However, that number is only increasing as more and more people log on to play.
I personally know many of my peers devote their hard-earned money towards this venture, and the result is always the same: start out on a small win, then to one crushing loss after another. This constant feedback loop results in an addiction as potent as many drugs out there today, as even with painful losses, those small wins will keep a player coming back day after day.
Many may ask, “Why is this dangerous?”
The answer lies in the availability.
Previously, casinos solely provided this dopamine rush; however, now, it is a few clicks away.
Alongside this, gambling being kept inside of casinos provided an even more beneficial restriction: age limits. In the majority of Canada, one has to be 19 or older in order to gamble in a casino. However, online, it is much less regulated.
In-game purchases, which give random rewards, are a part of this process, and this starting point has been seen to quickly guide children towards more serious problems.
According to Alberta Health Services, 24% of Grade 7 students are gambling online, rising to 40% in the final years of high school.
With around one-third of our high school student body gambling, one can’t help but think of the negative effects —and not without reason.
Youth gambling today begins with loot boxes or other forms of online purchases that involve chance.
This first experience brings forward more direct gambling later in life, along with other consequences, such as an increased likelihood of alcohol and drug use.
However, the normalization that comes from these video games at such a young age is the largest cause for concern. Spending money online for items involving chance is the root of the problem. The solution?
Well, don’t. In my experience, outside of buying the game itself, spending money on video games is something that all kids come to regret. In five years, I, and all of my peers, will look back and regret the money that we spent and recognize that it was never worth it.
So, set out for success early: don’t spend the money.
Thomas Legg is a Sea to Sky Grade 11 student.
