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Enact tougher laws to curb youth gambling
BCLB is banking on the Gambling Control Bill, 2023, currently before Parliament, to strengthen regulation of the industry.
The popularity of internet gambling has subtly escalated into a public health emergency, with young people becoming more and more vulnerable to its risks.
With gambling now only a few phone taps away, coupled with gaudy social media advertisements and games that pass as entertainment, an increasing number of young people are falling into dangerous addiction cycles and financial disaster.
Aviator, a fast-paced betting game that imitates video game elements while hiding its predatory nature, is among the most concerning examples of this trend.
We must implement stricter laws governing online gambling and completely outlaw Aviator and related games to safeguard our children.
Gambling addiction among teenagers is on the rise, with studies revealing that persons aged 16 to 24 are becoming addicted quicker than any other demographic.
Online gambling sites, in contrast to traditional casinos, are always open, frequently require little age verification, and are built with tricks to keep consumers interested.
Due to their developing brains, young people are particularly vulnerable; they are more impulsive, more prone to peer pressure and less able to understand the long-term effects of dangerous behaviour. It is precisely these weaknesses that gambling platforms take advantage of.
In Aviator, for example, users wager and watch a plane take off in the game; the longer the jet flies, the larger the possible payoff.
They lose everything, though, if it crashes before they cash out. Although it seems easy and enjoyable, this is a classic case of psychological manipulation.
Like a slot machine, the game gives players a false sense of control, appeals to their reward system and keeps them coming back for more. But the odds are set so that the casino always wins, and there is no talent involved—just the appearance of strategy.
Widespread use of radio commercials are worsening the situation. Young people find it practically impossible to escape these advertisements because many of them are broadcast during prime listening times.
These advertisements frequently minimise the dangers of gambling by using humorous tones, catchy jingles and the promise of instant profit. Because of this ongoing exposure, gambling is normalised as a harmless pastime.
Who will save our youth from this menace? The answer is obvious. The relevant government regulatory bodies must act quickly.
Dangerous games like Aviator should be prohibited. Then, in order to prevent minors from gambling, age verification procedures need to be reinforced. Ads for gambling, especially those targeted at youth via social media and influencers, need to be strictly monitored or prohibited.
Furthermore, all platforms should be compelled to state the odds of winning in basic, transparent language and remove deceptive elements like autoplay and infinite scrolling.
We already have laws against dangerous goods like alcohol and cigarettes. The same amount of attention and control should be given to gaming.
Mr Kitema is a communications and public relations specialist. [email protected].
