Hard Luck –
December 28, 2019 – The youngest person receiving treatment for gambling addiction last year was just 15, according to the NHS data, as new technologies make gambling more visible and accessible for young people. Previous research by Regulus Partners revealed that nearly half of the £1.5bn spent on advertising by betting firms annually is on direct online marketing.
Concerns have also been raised over the proliferation of ‘loot box’ mechanicsinside video games targeted at children, which encourage the spending of real-world currencies and simulate gambling activities. The Royal Society of Public Health recently called for loot box mechanics to be restricted in games marketed to under-18s. Shirley Cramer of the Royal Society for Public Health said: “The rise of loot boxes and skin betting have seen young people introduced to the same mechanisms that underpin gambling, through an industry that operates unchecked and unregulated on the back alleys of the internet, which young people can access from their bedrooms. “As with any public health issue, this is one that requires a combination of measures focusing on both education and regulation.
