Gambling, youth and the internet in the UK. Isn’t it a perfect combination?
In 2019, the UK Gambling Commission published the Young People & Gambling survey, which focused on young people’s participation in online activities to gain a better understanding of how 11-16-year-olds play.
It was discovered that although online gambling is much less popular with youths than in-person gambling, there was a significant increase between 2017 and 2019 because of incentive rewards’ appearance like no deposit bonus 2022 uk, from 1% of 11-16 year-olds gambling online in 2017 and 2018 to 3% in 2019. .
The aforementioned statistics reveal the potential for online gambling to have long lasting adverse effects on young people due to the fast proliferation of new gambling technologies and opportunities.
So, gambling, youth, and the internet; how do they come into play? Well, let’s break them down before we mash them up.
The evolution of gambling
Gambling is one of the oldest recreations of man. It is as old as time itself.
Historically, “gambling” has alluded to cheating or unfair play. A gambler was described as a dishonest gamester, sharper, or rogue who constantly plays for real money, particularly with exorbitantly large bets.
However, in modern times, the definition of gambling is betting money or other assets on actions or events with random or unpredictable results.
Throughout history, however, gambling has also featured skill-based pursuits. For instance, a bettor’s understanding of using a no deposit bonus might increase their odds of winning in specific card games. At the same time, knowledge of horses can enhance forecasts of likely results in a horse race.
Applying such abilities may lessen the event’s unpredictability, but the outcome remains unclear due to other elements that cannot be anticipated or studied.
Youths by definition
Like every social science phenomenon, the word “youth” does not have a universally agreed definition. According to the statistics on demography, education, employment, and health gathered by the UN, youth is a person between the ages of 15 and 24 years.
However, it is pertinent to note that the practical meaning of the word “youth” and its many subtleties differ from nation to nation, based on the relative social, institutional, economic, and political elements at play in each country.
Moving on, the aforementioned brings us to the concept of the gambling age. Gambling age varies in different countries.
After turning 18, UK citizens, like in every European country excluding Greece, will be legally permitted to gamble in every casino, wager on mobile slots, and participate in the lottery. Here’s a list of the legal gambling ages for some countries:
● Japan: 18-20
● Macau: 21 (Residents), 18 (Tourists)
● Monaco: 18
● Belgium, Germany, and Ireland: 21
● Greece: 23
● Portugal: 25 (Citizens), 18 (Foreigners).
Based on continents:
● Africa: 18 (Most countries)
● Asia: 21 (Most countries)
● Australia: 18
● Europe: 18 (Most countries)
● South America: 18 (Most countries)
The rise of the internet
Let’s briefly go back to the end of the 20th century. It was the 1st January 1983, and the internet was birthed. It was life-changing and thought-provoking. In essence, the advent of the internet revolutionised so many ramifications of life.
We all began to see the world differently. In not so many words, the internet made life easier. As technology advanced, it ushered in many possibilities. You could bank, shop, apply for a job, hop on several virtual meetings, and more.
The internet impacted the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries while permeating several facets of life such as Education, Health, Finance, Business, Working, Networking, and Gambling. And there we have it - Gambling.
In recent years, new forms of internet gambling surfaced. Several of these include online casino gaming, sports betting, and more. Online gambling and online gaming are frequently used interchangeably in the UK.
Although the terms refer to two very similar activities, there are some distinctions between them. However, both forms of betting provide players with more offers, such as better payment systems, incentives like no deposit bonuses, and more, which helped attract millions of players.
Online Gambling
To gamble online is to place a wager via the internet with the help of tips from platforms like slotozilla.com/uk/, which connects players to several other gambling sites and also provides unbiased online slots casino reviews.
With current technology, this typically entails logging into the best online casino, bingo room, sportsbook, etc., on a laptop, desktop computer, or mobile device and then using a credit or debit card to place a wager on online slots.
For an activity to be regarded as gambling, it must possess three vital elements:
● Chance
● Stake
● Prize
The stake refers to the amount of money the bettor offers when placing a bet at the casino or signing up for a no deposit bonus. The chance is the possibility that the bettor will win or lose their stake; however, this is usually a matter of luck rather than skill.
The prize is what the bettor will win if the wager is successful. Examples of online gambling include sports betting, wagering on blackjack at the best payout online casino, and virtual poker.
To gamble is to play a game of chance in which the odds are not always in your favour. The analogy between a coin and a gamble is apt, as both have the same number of faces. You either win or lose.
The philosophy is the same whether you are playing at dollar deposit casinos in the UK or at an offshore gambling website.
Online Gaming
Online gaming may refer to playing interactive computer and console video games. These might be centred on talents and techniques or be forms of amusement and have nothing to do with using a casino bonus or gambling in general.
Video games, role playing video games, multiplayer internet games, and tabletop games are examples of gaming.
In addition, internet casino gaming may refer to social gaming, which has grown in popularity among users of social networks in the UK, such as Facebook, smartphone technology, and several free-to-play game applications.
Relevant examples of social gaming apps include, but are not limited to, Words with Friends, Clash of Clans, and Candy Crush.
Gambling, youth, and the internet
How exactly do these three fit?
Before the advent of online casino gambling, young adults found it difficult to go to bricks and mortar casino establishments, mainly because of age restrictions. However, the advent of the internet has radically changed the gambling business.
The digitization of casino gambling, which is widely accessible through the internet and video game consoles, has alleviated worries about youth gambling by meeting their demanding needs.
Digitised forms of gambling especially appeal to youngsters due to their overwhelming familiarity with social media and the internet; a history of youth engagement in simulated gambling via social media and free slot games is connected with gambling with money intentions. This is where they all come together.
The relationship between gambling, youth, and the internet is predicated on the identity and digitization that are intricately intertwined among members of Generation Z, mixing the physical and digital worlds like never before.
When asked which value, trait, or characteristic is most significant to their generation, Generation Z ranked tech-savvy (19%) almost as highly as freedom (22%). 64% of this demographic feel that artificial intelligence will have a beneficial influence, while 66% believe that the internet will bring people closer together.
Behavioural statistics of Gen z’s online activities
Internet activities
Percentage
Text & chat
73%
Entertainment
59%
Gaming
58%
School work
36%
Browse and Shop
17%
According to ThriveMyWay, Gen Z-ers spend more than an average of 8 hours a day online playing their favourite games at the best online casino portals. In fact, for 58% of today’s Millennials, being disconnected from the internet for more than four hours is an absolute deal breaker.
Why youths gamble
It is no news that in today’s world, most of those involved in casino gambling in the UK are young people whose motivations stem from a desire to become wealthy at any cost. Youths today live in a society where legalised gambling is socially acceptable, heavily promoted, and widely visible.
The best casino tournaments with expert commentary, interesting filming angles, and million dollar prizes have become a “hot topic” on cable and broadband reality television networks.
Given the pervasiveness, visibility, and glamour now associated with gambling, it is not surprising that many adolescents are drawn to its instant gratification, thrill, and promise of quick cash, free spins, and more.
According to a UK report, the reason why youths play real money casino games boils down to these reasons, among others:
Peer pressure
Excitement
Enjoyment
Chance
Boredom
Depression
In 2020, Ipsos Mori and the University of Stirling in the UK presented concerning statistics based on their research which showed that 96% of people aged 11 to 24 were exposed to marketing messages promoting gambling.
Sixty six per cent of respondents reported seeing these advertisements on social media, including YouTube and Facebook.
Moreover, studies have shown that 18–24 year-olds are more likely to participate in gambling. This is because their brains are still developing, and emotion and reasoning are not wholly realised until age 24 or 25.
This makes making sound decisions more challenging. Consequently, young individuals are more likely to take risks and behave impulsively.
Why youths prefer online casino platforms
The trend of young people moving away from traditional casino and toward the best online casino is one going at a fast pace. Young people are also shifting their gambling habits away from group activities with friends to individual pursuits that can be done at any time and from any location.
This is especially worrisome given that research has linked online gambling with higher rates of compulsive betting among young people than traditional forms of gambling.
Based on a meta-analysis of international studies, online gamblers are more likely to develop a gambling problem than non-gamblers.
According to the responsible gaming council:
● One in ten teens has participated in online gambling over the preceding three months.
● Online casino gamblers were likelier to report gambling issues than those who gambled at land-based casino.
● 12.4% of teenagers have played online casino simulation games during the previous three months (free poker, online slots, or gambling games on Facebook).
● Youths who played simulated casino gambling games were likely to engage in real money gambling.
Internet gambling offers a convenient and generally anonymous entry point to an otherwise restricted activity for minors because of stringent regulations and bans on underage participation in every land-based casino and other venues.
Experts have pointed out that the accessibility of gambling websites among young people in the UK correlates with the aesthetic appeal of online betting.
Conclusion
Internet gamblers are a varied population whose influence on gambling issues is tempered by various individual, societal, and environmental factors.
As virtual betting continues to expand and involvement rises, especially among young people, it is probable that associated issues will arise. However, research and regulation will need to improve drastically to have a more profound knowledge of the influence of this access on the occurrence and experience of gambling.
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