In today’s world, where technology and access to information are constantly evolving, public health is facing a huge new challenge: children’s addiction to gambling. The age at which children become addicted to gambling is steadily decreasing, and current research indicates that 10 years of age has become the tipping point at which children become increasingly susceptible to such a dangerous addiction. In Australia in particular, gambling addiction is becoming more prevalent among children of this age, causing serious concern among public health experts.
Our site often provides explanation on the psychology of casino goers, but addiction has become particularly relevant in the last few years with the proliferation of online gambling.
The shocking results of the research conducted
According to a recent investigation by Guardian Australia, gambling is becoming a growing problem among young people, leading to depression, anxiety, debt and broken relationships. Data from Gambling Help Online for the financial year 2022-23 showed a 16% increase in the number of young people under the age of 24 seeking help. In Victoria, about 600 of the 2136 referrals involved young people aged 15 to 24, raising serious concerns among public health experts.
Experts say the figures mask the true scale of the problem, noting that trusting self-regulation in the gambling industry is not working. What’s more, a joint study by Federation University and the Victorian Coroner’s Court found that between 2009 and 2016, 184 of the 4,788 suicide deaths in the state were gambling-related, with 14 of them falling between the ages of 17 and 24. These staggering figures underscore the need for more effective measures to protect young people from the dangerous effects of the gambling industry.
Australia has come under the spotlight due to the huge loss of money to gambling, which not only jeopardizes the economic well-being of the country, but also the health and well-being of citizens, particularly children and teenagers. The data obtained from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is quite staggering: the population losses from legal forms of gambling amount to about 25 billion dollars annually, making the spending the highest per capita in the world.
Also worrying is the fact that children and teenagers are being drawn into the world of gambling from a very young age. A study of Victorian high school students found that almost a third had participated in gambling in the previous 30 days. Children not only gamble, but also hold bets among friends and family, as well as participating in traditional sports such as betting on sporting events and horse racing.
Despite the fact that only adults are allowed to enter gambling establishments, it was shocking to learn that about 9,000 teens in the study admitted to playing slot machines, table games in casinos. The obtained statistical data speak for themselves, allowing to conclude that the problem of gambling among minors in Australia is very serious and requires immediate intervention and action on the part of government agencies and public organizations.
Article was prepared with the help of: https://mostbetapp.net/