Screen time—a relatively new term plagued by parents globally. How much screen time should we allow for our children? What type of screens do we allow and what type of programming?
For parents, it can be challenging to monitor what their children are doing on their devices. There are programs that can set timers and restrict particular programing, but those aren’t always fool-proof.
One area of concern for parents is age-inappropriate advertisements in children’s games and television programs—particularly gambling ads.
Advertisements in Games
Laptops, tablets, and smartphones offer children the chance to play many digital games. Angry Birds and Candy Crush are two of the most popular. Nevertheless, the betting ads on these games make them a bit of a risk to kids.
Pokies.bet, an Australian online casino, feels a bit saddened by this turn of events. This online casino discovered that the advertisements are filled with offers from casinos and online gambling sites. Ads are quite powerful—they are capable of making gambling appear cool, adventurous, and enticing, especially to children. Ad creators know what they are doing. After all, you’re most likely to buy a product or pay for a service that you saw in an advertisement.
Advertisements often trigger curiosity in these young minds. Your kids are likely to try their hand in online sports betting specifically because of a few ads they saw. Therefore, do not underrate the power or influence of these ads on your child.
Young People and Gambling
Young people have taken to gambling like fish to water. A recent national study in Australia found that 30 percent of all young people aged 12-17 years gambled at least once in the last 12 months. More shockingly, this age group first gambled when they were either 11 or 12 years old. Each classroom in Australia has at least one person who either has a gambling problem or is at risk of developing it.
At this young age, most of these children gamble with friends and family. However, a significant number also bet on races and sports, which the law only allows for those aged 18 years and above. This starts the gambling trend at a young age.
Parental Intervention
Consequently, parental intervention is necessary to rectify the situation before it worsens. As a parent, you could restrict the tablet or smartphone that your child uses to access gambling sites and apps. Most gambling sites would not allow the kids to register or play before they reach the legal age of 18 years.
Additionally, you could speak with your young ones about the effect gambling has on their lives. Your actions, especially the habit of gambling, could influence your kids to embrace it too. Therefore, avoid gambling with them or near them.
Valuable Resources
Being a parent can be quite lonely at times, specifically when your efforts to dissuade your children from gambling fail to achieve the desired results. However, it is helpful to know that you have several additional resources to help.
In Australia, these resources include hotlines and online help centers. One of the best is Gambling Helpline Online. Here, you can chat with counselors to help you make decisions and choices that benefit your child.
On top of that, the Australian government runs several programs designed to help those struggling with gambling addiction. At times, you might need to take your children to licensed professionals for the following types of therapy and counseling:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Psychological therapies
- Financial counseling
Protect Your Children
It is not wise to deny children the chance to play a wide range of digital games they can access on tablets and smartphones. However, it’s advised to understand the effect of exposure to gambling and betting ads on their lives. It is important for you to take proactive measures to help your kids. Do not allow the situation to get out of hand and take decisive action today to put them on a path to full recovery.
The first step is to acquaint yourself with the betting ads they encounter on mobile gadgets. Restrict the settings to ensure they do not access gambling apps or platforms. Don’t forget to seek professional counseling if necessary.
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