Concern over Under Age Gambling and Social Media Adverts

[News Hound]

New study from the University of Bristol suggests children are exposed to gambling adverts on social media platforms. Full details here: Concern Raised over Children exposed to Gambling Adverts on Social Media Platforms

 

[goatwack]

Easily solved: rescind kids' gadgets and Social Media privileges.

Tada!

(Won't someone think of the children?!?)

 

[EkJR]

I'd be more concerned about the rise of gaming companies and "Vbucks" than a few gambling ads...deflect from the real issue!

 

[JGslots]

Might be of slight interest to UK folks...

BACTA the trade association for UK coin op along with its members are trialing a non-compulsory trail in select family entertainment centres.

Unsupervised under 16’s are not be permitted use Cat D machines (I think cranes, pushers or £5 jackpot fruit machines)

This is a move that’s not been initiated by the UKGC, but purely the trade body BACTA. The idea is to present the findings etc to the UKGC.

It’s anticipated that the UKGC is considering its move on the use of complex CAT D gaming machines, as currently they can be used by any age.

Rob

 

[JGslots]

I believe the UK is the only country in the world that it is legal for even a 7/8 year old child to bet on £5 jackpot gambling machines.

This sounds harmless, but some of these £5 jackpot machines can pay streaks of over £50, which obviously makes them highly addictive.

Rob

 

[EkJR]

I believe the UK is the only country in the world that it is legal for even a 7/8 year old child to bet on £5 jackpot gambling machines.

This sounds harmless, but some of these £5 jackpot machines can pay streaks of over £50, which obviously makes them highly addictive.

Rob

I started on fruit machines when I was 10. Fascinated by them. Mostly 8 to £10 jackpot at that stage and the odd Club that had £250 jackpot 4 reelers. I lived in these arcades gambling constantly when I could. There were absolutely no restrictions until about 2000ish. It created a generation of gamblers and a lot are now classed as problem gamblers it has to be said.

 

[goatwack]

Coin-ops now that's a term I hadn't heard in at least 20 years

Speaking of coin-ops, we all played them as kids, right into their death throes mid-teens.

Thing is, it's a fine line isn't it. Is it entertainment or gambling? This includes all seaside resort-type machines that kids would play on....

Good luck with any regulatory authority trying to stem the flow on gambling-esque content in all its various guises today, especially as the mediums of gaming and gambling are near-indistinguishable. That is, unless everyone really does ban Social Media etc

Hell, even Phil Neville suggested people take a hiatus from Social Media as its riddled with uncontrollable content. I can see this being a thing as at present it's just overload

 

[JGslots]

From what I can see is that the arcades are trying to demonstrate that they are protecting children by introducing these new rules, before the UKGC clamps down and enforced tougher, more stringent rules.

I think most, not all seaside arcades mainly rely upon on redemption (ticket machines). They’ve adapted existing cash payout gambling machines to payout tickets, which players collect and save up for prizes.

If you check the RTP on these machines they can be set as low as 30% RTP.

Clearly these machines are targeted at children as the themes are often fantasy or based on licensed children’s films etc.

Will be interesting to see how it pans out in the UK. Most see the seaside arcades as a harmless pastime, but at what point can it cause problems such as addiction and gambling issues later in life.

Rob

 

[steveh35]

I believe the UK is the only country in the world that it is legal for even a 7/8 year old child to bet on £5 jackpot gambling machines.

This sounds harmless, but some of these £5 jackpot machines can pay streaks of over £50, which obviously makes them highly addictive.

Rob

Most seaside resorts have removed the real money machines for children now you mostly get crappy tokens for crappy prizes now. There are still some machines but they are getting smaller as the cheap seaside amusements realise tokens are easier to deal with and most people will just end up throwing them away.

 

[JGslots]

I started on fruit machines when I was 10. Fascinated by them. Mostly 8 to £10 jackpot at that stage and the odd Club that had £250 jackpot 4 reelers. I lived in these arcades gambling constantly when I could. There were absolutely no restrictions until about 2000ish. It created a generation of gamblers and a lot are now classed as problem gamblers it has to be said.

I remember that era also. I can safely say I was addicted to fruit machines from the age of 12/13. I would spend the whole weekend and some weeknights hanging around the local seaside arcades.

Back then they still had an over 18s ‘all cash’ area, but I could still play £8 token jackpot games such as sonic the hedgehog, labyrinth, viva Espana and hundreds more lol.

My earliest memory of gambling and probably addiction was £2 jackpot 2p play game called Line Up from Barcrest.

I’m too young to remember bellfruits and dirty looking mustard buttons

Rob

 

[JGslots]

Most seaside resorts have removed the real money machines for children now you mostly get crappy tokens for crappy prizes now. There are still some machines but they are getting smaller as the cheap seaside amusements realise tokens are easier to deal with and most people will just end up throwing them away.

Yes, a lot of fruit machines have disappeared, you’re right. But there’s always loads of families standing at the penny pushers or trying to win a meerkat teddy

The most probable reason is that they make so much more money from the ticket/prize machines as they don’t have a minimum RTP, unlike the cash payouts, which have to be on at least 70% payout.

Rob

 

[EkJR]

I remember that era also. I can safely say I was addicted to fruit machines from the age of 12/13. I would spend the whole weekend and some weeknights hanging around the local seaside arcades.

Back then they still had an over 18s ‘all cash’ area, but I could still play £8 token jackpot games such as sonic the hedgehog, labyrinth, viva Espana and hundreds more lol.

My earliest memory of gambling and probably addiction was £2 jackpot 2p play game called Line Up from Barcrest.

I’m too young to remember bellfruits and dirty looking mustard buttons

Rob

Hated that Viva Espana...best thing on it was duty free, expensive goods. Could easily get more than the jackpot but that Spanish customs bastard kept killing you...no passport!! Sonic..played that a bit. Really liked games like Roller Coaster, Road Hog, Madhouse, Andy Capp...those were all around the places I went in. I remember the over 18 bit but it was definitely when i was older, maybe that was just a Scottish thing lol.