the Council of Europe sounds the alarm
Faced with the boom in online gambling and the risky mechanisms incorporated into video games, the Council of Europe is stepping up its efforts to protect young people from the risks of addiction. A recent conference held in Rome highlighted some worrying figures and proposed ways of curbing this growing phenomenon.
Young people vulnerable to gambling
Sports betting, online casino games and online gambling loot boxes – virtual rewards chests whose contents are random – are multiplying and appeal to an ever-younger audience. A recent study revealed that more than a quarter of teenagers using online gaming platforms are at risk of developing gambling-related disorders. addiction !
What’s more, 16% of young people who take part in sports betting are affected by this problematic behavior. These figures, which are worrying for the experts, illustrate the urgent need for collective awareness and concrete action.
An increasingly blurred line between video games and gambling
The video game industry, now more powerful than the music and film industries, is constantly evolving, integrating features inspired by gambling. The loot boxesin particular, pose a major problem: their operation is based on a lottery-like principle, encouraging players to spend without any guarantee of reward.
With the industry expected to be worth nearly $300 billion by 2028, the line between entertainment and addiction is hard to draw. Regulators are questioning the need for stricter supervision to limit the negative impact on young gamblers.
Gambling addictionalthough affecting a minority of teenagers, can have serious consequences: sleep disorders, anxiety, family conflicts and social isolation. According to psychologist Orsolya Kiraly, these disorders are often accompanied by an inability to recognize the problem, making access to treatment difficult. Toxicologist Simona Pichini points out that the stigmatization of these behaviors also hinders help-seeking.
Initiatives for better support
Aware of these challenges, the Council of Europe is calling for greater awareness and tighter supervision of high-risk practices. Some countries, such as Belgium, have already taken drastic measures by banning loot boxes without a specific license, forcing industry giants to adapt their games. Others, like France, impose transparency rules on winning probabilities. The aim is to make market players more responsible and better protect young people from the pitfalls of addiction..
As debates continue on a European scale, the need for harmonized regulations is becoming ever more pressing to protect young people from the abuses associated with gambling and the dubious practices of the video games industry.
