Apps luring children facing crackdown
Child psychologists are warning of a looming epidemic in problem gambling as a result of social media gambling and smartphone apps designed to lure children.
South Australian premier Jay Weatherill is now sharpening his axe to chop them down before it becomes a problem.
He met with experts today to explore any potential legal and social hurdles in his crusade.
“Unless you’re a particularly vigilant parent, it’s something your children will be exposed to – we need to understand this,” Mr Weatherill said.
Robert Chappell from the Independent Gambling Authority said: “It just winds them up, when they’re 18 they can just walk into a gaming room.”
Psychologists say while these games may look innocent enough, they quickly familiarise children with the principles and mechanics of gambling, especially through interactivity.
“It’s accessible 24 hours a day and the features are mimicking real electronic games,” University of South Australia researcher Daniel King said.
With so little research completed, experts cannot yet accurately predict the long-term harm.
“What we say is that many of these things kids are doing as young as five are actually gambling,” UniSA researcher Paul Delfabbro said.
Premier Jay Weatherill wants parents who gamble to join the fight.
