Should we be concerned about Internet gambling for our youth?

Jeffrey L. Derevensky, Ph.D.

Professor, School/Applied Child PsychologyProfessor, Psychiatry

International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors

McGill Universitywww.youthgambling.com

National Council on Problem GamblingMilwaukee, July, 2012

The new face of Internet gambling

Merging of social media sites

Why is Internet gambling potentially problematic for youth?

• Increased accessibility & availability• Convenience• Similarity with video-game technology• Can gamble for small amounts of money • Play in comfortable, non-intrusive environments often

results in longer play• Anonymity• No travel barriers• Psychologically youth perceive themselves as

invincible and smarter than adults

Wagering via the Internet

• Poker/card games

• Casino games

• Sports wagering

• Reality shows

• Celebrity adoptions, arrests, etc.

• Any form of contest/Political race

Prevalence Findings of Internet Wagering

• Vary considerably

• Dependent upon method, sampling & date of data collection

• Dependent upon population studied

• Dependent upon the games studied

Is Internet gambling problematic(for youth)?

Some clinical evidence

Recent Internet Gambling Studies

Are Internet gamblers more likely to have problems?

Wood & Williams (2007) - Sample of on-line adult gamblers

• Non-problem gamblers: 34%• At-risk gamblers: 24%• Moderate problem gamblers: 23%• Severe problem gamblers: 20%• 2/3 of those respondents gambling on the

Internet are likely to have problems

Frequency of Play on Internet Gambling Sites Without Moneyin the Past 12 Months by Gambling Severity

N = 2205

Internet Gambling Without Money1

Yes(n = 1082)

No(n = 1123)

Gambling Groups***

Non Gambler n = 726 33.9 66.1

Social Gambler n = 1278 56.6 43.4

At-Risk Gambler n = 129 74.4 25.6

Probable Pathological Gambler

n = 72 80.6 19.4

Total 49.1 50.9

1Percentage. ***p<.001.

Frequency of Play on Internet Gambling Sites With Moneyin the Past 12 Months by Gambling Severity

N = 2292

Internet Gambling With Money1

Yes(n = 183)

No(n = 2109)

Gambling Groups***

Non Gambler n = 745 0 100

Social Gambler n = 1333 9.5 90.5

At-Risk Gambler n = 139 21.6 78.4

Probable Pathological Gambler

n = 75 34.7 65.3

Total 8.0* 92.0

1Percentage *13.1% males; 4.6% females are gambling on Internet

Canadian National Study (Meerkamper, 2010)

National Annenberg Survey of Youth (Romer, 2010)

N=835 (2008) N=596 (2010)

At least once per month

• Internet gambling among males 14-17 rose from 2.7% (2008) to 6.2% (2010)

• Internet gambling among males 18-22 rose from 4.4% (2008) to 16.0% (2010)

• Internet gambling among females 14-17 rose from 0.5% (2008) to 1.5% (2010)

• Internet gambling among females 18-22 rose from 0.0% (2008) to 4.4% (2010)

Past-Year Gambling Participation (On and Off the Internet) by Gender and Problem Gambling Severity among college students

(McBride & Derevensky, in press)N Offline gambling Practice sites Internet gambling

Gender***

Male 305 66.2 49.8 11.8 (90)

Female 160 46.9 30.0 0.6 (90)

Problem Gambling

Severity

Non gambler a 186 - 22.0 (90)*** -

Social gambler b 262 99.2 55.3 (90)*** 11.8 (90)**

Problem gambler c 17 100 82.4 (90)*** 35.3 (90)**

Total 465 59.6 (90) 43.0 (90) 8.0 (90)

1Percentage, participant numbers in parentheses.aDSM-IV score = 0, no gambling activity (on or off the Internet) in the past 12 months.bDSM-IV score (0 - 2).cDSM-IV score (≥ 3).***p < .001** p < .01

NCAA Study NCAA Study (Derevensky & Paskus, 2010)(Derevensky & Paskus, 2010)

Comparison between 2004 & 2008Comparison between 2004 & 2008

Casino gambling via the Internet Casino gambling via the Internet represented the largest increaserepresented the largest increaseStudent athletes increased sports wagering Student athletes increased sports wagering via the Internet (10.9% in 2004 to 18.8% in via the Internet (10.9% in 2004 to 18.8% in 2008)2008)““Internet (and mobile gambling) will Internet (and mobile gambling) will become particularly problematic for this become particularly problematic for this group [student athletes] and need to be group [student athletes] and need to be carefully monitored”carefully monitored”

U.K Gambling study U.K Gambling study (Griffiths et al., 2009; 2011)(Griffiths et al., 2009; 2011)

6% of gamblers in general (9% males; 3% 6% of gamblers in general (9% males; 3% females) were Internet gamblers females) were Internet gamblers Internet gamblers tended to be males (74% Internet gamblers tended to be males (74% vs 26%)vs 26%)55% of Internet gamblers <age 3455% of Internet gamblers <age 34Highest percentage of Internet gamblers Highest percentage of Internet gamblers were between age 16-24; 25-34were between age 16-24; 25-34Pathological gamblers (Internet 5% vs 0.5% Pathological gamblers (Internet 5% vs 0.5% non-Internet gamblers)non-Internet gamblers)Large number of adolescents gambling via Large number of adolescents gambling via the Internet the Internet

Our current knowledge

Most have played on free sitesMost have played on free sites Increasing use of social media sitesIncreasing use of social media sites Most Internet gamblers wager on Most Internet gamblers wager on

multiple sitesmultiple sites Much of Internet gambling typically Much of Internet gambling typically

occurs in the eveningsoccurs in the evenings Vast majority of Internet gamblers Vast majority of Internet gamblers

play for short periods (less than 2 play for short periods (less than 2 hours each timehours each time

Some reports suggest that they Some reports suggest that they gamble $30-$60 per sessiongamble $30-$60 per session

Often solitary activity but can also be Often solitary activity but can also be used as way of socializingused as way of socializing

Particularly attractive to adolescents Particularly attractive to adolescents and young adultsand young adults

What needs to be done?

Increased public awareness about Increased public awareness about the risks associated with Internet the risks associated with Internet gamblinggambling

Strict regulation based upon best Strict regulation based upon best practicespractices

Increased funding for treatment, Increased funding for treatment, prevention, & research prevention, & research

Standards for Internet Gambling Companies

G50

Age verificationAge verification Reality ChecksReality Checks Self ExclusionSelf Exclusion Social responsibility/Player Social responsibility/Player

protection informationprotection information Harm minimization strategiesHarm minimization strategies Advertising and promotional materialAdvertising and promotional material Spending limitsSpending limits Training and supportTraining and support Play-For-Fun or free/practice playPlay-For-Fun or free/practice play