A study published by the journal BMC Public Health quotes researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Canada who posit that free online casino games may create a yen for the real thing among teens, with a higher risk of promoting problem gambling. In other words, it may be the gaming equivalent of a “gateway drug.”
In Canada, as in most countries, brick and mortar casinos are verboten for adolescents, but free online games, aka “social casino games” can be accessed by any age, according to the researchers. They enable players to become proficient at casino table games, slots, poker or bingo without risking actual cash. Players also win points or prizes, which encourages them to keep playing.
Because nothing is ventured, and nothing is gained, except within the boundaries of the game, the social casino games are not legally considered gambling. So, they remain largely unregulated, the report notes.
The report studied more than 10,000 teenagers in grades 9 to 12 in three Canadian provinces. Of these, 12 percent said they had played social casino games in the last three months. The study found that those who played such games were more likely to play the real thing, either online or at a physical casino, compared to those who didn’t have that earlier experience.
Tara Elton-Marshall, the senior author of the study, declared, “While it’s not clear whether young people begin in social casino games and move to gambling for money, or if adolescents who are gambling for money also seek out these free games, there is evidence that social casino gaming may build excitement for gambling and encourage the transition into monetary gambling.” She noted that as many as half of those who played social casino games and gambled for many met the criteria for problem gamblers. This was significantly higher than teens who gambled but had not an earlier experience in social casino games.
Elton-Marshall speculated that might be because it is easier to win on social casino games, giving a false impression that players are luckier or more skillful. “It’s important for young people, parents, teachers and others to be aware that these risks exist,” she said.
