To date, little research has been done on the relationship between adolescent children and online gambling, especially regarding the conditions in which they can access e-gaming sites or the regularity with which they play. Professor Mark Griffiths, of Nottingham Trent University, examines how various studies, conducted in the EU and in the US, account for the links uniting adolescents and remote gaming

Griffiths, MD

Parke, J

English

Nottingham Trent Institutional Repository (IRep)

reprinted with permission - Cecile Park Publishing 2010family members, 2% alone and 4%with others.Olason (2009)2 reported twostudies examining gamblingbehaviour among Icelandicadolescents that included questionsrelating to internet gambling. Thefirst study carried out in schoolclasses comprised 1,513 adolescentsaged 16 to 18 years. The secondstudy, also carried out in schoolclasses, comprised 1,537adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. Inthe first study, 20% had gambledon the internet, and just under 4%were regular internet gamblers. Inthe second study, 24% hadgambled on the internet, and justover 4% were regular internetgamblers. In both studies, maleswere significantly more likely thanfemales to gamble on the internet(32% of boys v 9% of girls and37% of boys v 11.5% of girls,respectively). The prevalence ofproblem gambling amonggamblers was 3% in the first studyand 2.2% in the second study.However, among those who hadgambled on the internet, theproblem gambling prevalence rateswere significantly higher, at 10.1%and 7.5%, respectively.In the UK, Griffiths andWood(2007)3 surveyed 8,017 youngpeople aged between 12 and 15years of age about their internetgambling behaviour on lotteries.The results showed that 8% saidthey had played a National Lotterygame on the internet. Boys weremore likely than girls to say theyhad played National Lottery gameson the internet (10% v 6%). Theprevalence of problem gamblingwas 3.5%. Problem gamblers weremore likely than 'social gamblers'to have played a National Lotterygame on the internet (37%compared with 9%).When askedwhich of a series of statements bestdescribes how they played NationalLottery games on the internet,nearly three in ten adolescents whoplayed online reported playing freegames (29%), one in six reportedthat the system let them register(18%), slightly fewer played alongwith their parents (16%), and onein ten used their parent's onlineNational Lottery account eitherwith their permission (10%) orwithout it (7%). However, itshould be noted that a third ofonline players said they 'couldn'tremember' (35%).In a more recent UK study, IpsosMORI (2009)4 surveyed 8,598pupils aged 11 to 15 years old.Overall, 1% reported gambling onthe internet for money in the sevendays prior to the survey. Childrenwere also asked about 'gambling-like experiences', which includedthe 'play-for free' or practicemodes of real gambling sites. Justover a quarter of adolescents hadplayed in 'money-free mode' in theweek preceding the survey. Usingstatistical modelling to furtherexamine the same data, Forrest,McHale and Parke (2009)5reported that gambling in money-free mode was the single mostimportant predictor of whether thechild had gambled for money andone of the most importantpredictors of children's problemgambling. However, it should benoted that this relationship iscorrelational and not causal.In the US,Welte and colleagues(2009)6 assessed the relationshipbetween specific types of gamblingand the extent of problemgambling in 2,274 youths aged 14to 21 years. They found that 2% ofrespondents (3% of males and 0%of females) reported gamblingonline in the preceding 12 months.They also reported that theserespondents gambled online anaverage of 48 days per year, thehighest average of any kind ofgambling reported in the survey.Statistical analyses revealed thatwhen participation in other formsof gambling were controlled for,GAMBLING AND CHILDRENpublished in the February 2010 issue of World Online Gambling Law reportTo date, there has been littleempirical research on the topic ofadolescent internet gambling. ACanadian research team (Brunelle,Leclerc, et al. 2009; Brunelle,Cousineau, Dufour, et al, 2009;Brunelle, Gendron, et al, 20091)surveyed 1,876 high schoolstudents aged 14 to 18 years andreported that 8% (13% of malesand 3% of females) had gambledon the internet in the previous 12months. They also reported that35% of youths (49% of males and21% of females) had played on the'free play/demo' mode on internetgambling sites. They reported that3% of their participants wereproblem gamblers and thatsignificantly more internetgamblers (11%) were likely to beproblem gamblers than those whodid not gamble on the internet(1.5%). They also examined thetypes of games played on theinternet. Of the 137 internetgamblers identified, only 0.8% hadregularly played for money at anonline casino and only 1.9% hadregularly played for money inonline poker. However, the 'playfor free' modes were played moreregularly in online casinos (8.9%)and online poker (13.8%). Theresults also showed that 37% ofonline gambling was done mainlywith friends, 34% with theimmediate family, 23% with otherAdolescent internet gambling:what do we actually know?To date, little research has beendone on the relationship betweenadolescent children and onlinegambling, especially regarding theconditions in which they can accesse-gaming sites or the regularity withwhich they play. Professor MarkGriffiths, of Nottingham TrentUniversity, examines how variousstudies, conducted in the EU and inthe US, account for the links unitingadolescents and remote gaming.the link between internet gamblingand problem gambling amongyouth was no longer significant. Inother words, they concluded thatyoung internet gamblers werelikely to experience more problemgambling symptoms by virtue ofgambling on more forms ofgambling, as opposed to theproperties of internet gamblingitself.In addition to these studies, therehave also been some smaller, morelocally-based studies done invarious parts of Canada. Forinstance, Meerkamper (2006)7reported that more than one in 20teenagers aged 15 to 17 years, inNova Scotia, reported playingonline poker for money. Poulinand Elliot (2007) reported that, inthe past year, 4.2% of adolescentshad gambled for money online inAtlantic Canada (Poulin & Elliot,2007)8, and, in Montreal, almostone in ten teenagers (9%) reportedhaving gambled online for money(Derevensky & Gupta, 2007)9.While there is some variation inparticipation rates reported here,the surveys showed that a small butsignificant minority of adolescentscan and do gamble on the internet.Several of the studies reported apast year internet gamblingprevalence rate of around 4%(Meerkamper, 2006; Poulin &Elliot, 2007), while some reporteda lower figure (2%,Welte et al.2009) and others even reported therate as being considerably higher(for example, 8%, Gendron et al,2009; 9%, Derevensky and Gupta,2007; and 20-24%, Olasson, 2009).Interestingly, lower rates ofparticipation were found for theUS and for English-speakingCanadian provinces, with higherrates being reported for Quebecand Europe. It was also found thatadolescent internet gamblers weresignificantly more likely to beproblem gamblers. It may be thecase that problem gamblers aremore susceptible and/or vulnerableto gambling online and the factthat it provides conveniencegambling is a cause for concern inthis particular sub-group ofgamblers. However, it may also bethat adolescent problem gamblersgravitate to the internet, adding itas an additional mode of gamblingto their general repertoire ofgambling behaviours (Wood &Williams, 2009)10.Given the complexity of availableevidence, the role of internetgambling in creating adolescentproblem gamblers should betreated with caution. However, it isclear that research that can helpidentify the impact of internetgambling on creating or facilitatinggambling-related harm should bemade a priority. Such researchshould consider the potentiallydifferent roles that internetgambling may play in creating newforms of harm and in exacerbatingcurrent forms of harm.Our review showed there isevidence to suggest that 'money-free' gambling plays an importantrole for adolescents inconceptualising and experiencinginternet gambling. Around aquarter to a third of adolescentshave been reported to gamble inmoney free mode. Via this route,children are being introduced tothe principles and excitement ofgambling without experiencing theconsequences of losing money.Young people appear to be veryproficient in using and accessingthese media and are likely to beincreasingly exposed to remotegambling opportunities. Theseyoung people will therefore requireeducation and guidance to enablethem to cope with the challenges ofconvenience gambling in all itsguises. The same information alsoneeds to be made available toparents, teachers, healthprofessionals and otherpractitioners.Professor Mark D. Griffiths DirectorInternational Gaming Research UnitDr Jonathan Parke Senior LecturerNottingham Trent University (UK)University of Salford (UK)mark.griffiths@ntu.ac.ukj.parke@salford.ac.uk1. See Brunelle, N., Cousineau, M-M.,Dufour, M., Gendron, A. & Leclerc, D.(2009, March). A look at the contextualelements surrounding Internet gamblingamong adolescents. Banff Center,Alberta.Brunelle, N., Gendron, A., Leclerc, D.,Cousineau, M-M. & Dufour, M. (2008,November). Gambling, internet gamblingand substance use among Quebecyouth.Brunelle, N., Gendron, A., Dufour, M.,Leclerc, D. & Cousineau, M-M. (2009,February). Gambling among youth inrelation with alcohol and drug use,delinquency and psychological distress.McGill University, Canada.2. Olason, D. (2009, April), 'Internetgambling and problem gambling among13-18 year adolescents in Iceland',Paper presented at the 7th SNSUSConference (The Big Picture: Gamblingin Perspective), Helsinki, Finland.3. Griffiths, M.D. & Wood, R.T.A. (2007),'Adolescent Internet gambling:Preliminary results of a national survey',Education and Health, 25, 23-27.4. Ipsos MORI (2009). British Survey ofChildren, the National Lottery andGambling 2008-09: Report of aquantitative survey'. London.5. Forrest, D. K, McHale, I & Parke, J.(2009), Appendix 5: Full report ofstatistical regression analysis. In IpsosMORI (2009) British Survey of Children,the National Lottery and Gambling 2008-09: Report of a quantitative survey.London: National Lottery Commission.6. Welte, J. W., Barnes, G. M., Tidwell,M. O. & Hoffman, J.H. (2009). 'Theassociation of form of gambling withproblem gambling among Americanyouth', Psychology of AddictiveBehaviours, 23, 105-112.7. Meerkamper, E. (2006), 'Decodingrisk: Gambling attitudes and behavioursamongst youth in Nova Scotia'.8. Poulin, C., & Elliot, D. (2007). 'Studentdrug use survey in the Atlantic Provinces:Atlantic Technical Report', Halifax:Dalhousie University, Community Healthand Epidemiology.9. Derevensky, J. & Gupta, R. (2007)'Internet gambling amongst adolescents:A growing concern', International Journalof Mental Health and Addictions, 5, 93-10. Wood, R.T. & Williams, R.J. (2009),'Internet gambling: Prevalence, patterns,problems, and policy options', Guelph,Ontario: Ontario Problem GamblingCentre.reprinted with permission - Cecile Park Publishing 2010 published in the February 2010 issue of World Online Gambling Law reportGAMBLING AND CHILDRENGiven thecomplexity ofavailableevidence, therole ofinternetgambling increatingadolescentproblemgamblersshould betreated withcaution

A look at the contextual elements surrounding Internet gambling among adolescents.

Adolescent Internet gambling: Preliminary results of a national survey',

Appendix 5: Full report of statistical regression analysis.

British Survey of Children, the National Lottery and Gambling 2008-09: Report of a quantitative survey'.

Decoding risk: Gambling attitudes and behaviours amongst youth in Nova Scotia'.

Gambling among youth in relation with alcohol and drug use, delinquency and psychological distress.

Gambling, internet gambling and substance use among Quebec youth.

Internet gambling amongst adolescents: A growing concern',

Internet gambling and problem gambling among 13-18 year adolescents in Iceland',

reprinted with permission - Cecile Park Publishing

Student drug use survey in the Atlantic Provinces: Atlantic Technical Report',

The association of form of gambling with problem gambling among American youth',

Adolescent Internet gambling: what do we actually know?

Adolescent Internet gambling: what do we actually know?

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