The Decibel How kids are getting hooked on gambling through online games
May 5, 2025
Dr. Loredana Marchica, a pediatric psychologist and psychiatrist, sheds light on alarming trends of youth gambling linked to online gaming. She discusses how game mechanics like loot boxes create addictive behaviors, often blurring the lines between gaming and actual gambling. The rising rates of problem gambling among young people in Canada are concerning, as these games exploit biological and psychological factors. Marchica emphasizes the need for awareness, education, and open discussions about gambling risks in families.
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How Gambling Hooks the Brain
- Gambling activates the brain's reward system causing dopamine release and pleasure.
- Intermittent reinforcement, with unpredictable rewards, intensifies gambling addiction urges.
Why Teens Are More Vulnerable
- Adolescent brains aren't fully developed, leading to impulsivity and risk-taking.
- Teens are thus more prone to addictive behaviors when gambling due to undeveloped planning and consequence evaluation.
Youth Exposure to Gambling Ads
- Teens are 2 to 4 times more likely to have gambling problems than adults.
- Social media ads and sports event advertising expose youth to gambling ideas early on.