A new study reveals rising online gambling among B.C. youth, with video games and in-app purchases teaching kids to bet as early as age 12.
Study Reveals Alarming Trends
A new report from the McCreary Centre Society has found that online gambling among B.C. youth is on the rise, with video games acting as a gateway for risky behaviour. The study, released this week, shows that adolescents are increasingly encountering gambling-like features through in-app purchases, a trend experts warn is harder to regulate than traditional betting.
Findings Across the Province
The 2023 Adolescent Health Survey, which included 38,277 youth from 59 of B.C.’s 60 school districts, revealed that 20 per cent of respondents had gambled in the past year — up from 18 per cent in 2018. When video game-related gambling was factored in, the number jumped to 34 per cent, underscoring the role of digital platforms in shaping young people’s exposure to chance-based play.
How Gambling Starts in Games
Many teens reported spending money on in-game items such as “loot boxes” or cosmetic “skins,” where outcomes are random. Annie Smith, executive director of the McCreary Centre Society, compared this practice to gambling: “You’re going to get something, but it might not be something you want. The odds of getting something of real value are slim.”
Sports Betting on the Rise
The report also highlighted an increase in sports gambling among young people since single-game betting was legalized in B.C. in 2021. Although only four per cent of teens reported betting on sports, that figure has doubled in the past year. The survey noted that youth who actively play sports were also more likely to place bets, with 13 per cent of them gambling daily.
Who Is Most Affected
Survey data shows gambling participation is highest among males, with 47 per cent reporting gambling in the past year, compared to 29 per cent of non-binary youth and 20 per cent of females. The findings also point to troubling connections: problematic gaming correlated with loneliness, bullying, and not feeling safe in one’s neighbourhood.
Why It Matters
Researchers warn that gambling through video games normalizes betting behaviour at an early age. Unlike casinos, which enforce strict age rules, online platforms are often accessible in the privacy of a teen’s bedroom. The exposure is amplified by constant advertising, particularly around sports, making gambling feel like part of everyday life.
Addressing the Issue
Smith emphasized the importance of both enforcement and support systems to protect young people. Factors associated with lower gambling rates included having offline time before bed, pursuing post-secondary education, and learning life skills from adults. “Connection, supervision, and monitoring online time all need to come together,” Smith said.
This article is original and written specifically for Surreyspeak.com
