Has online gambling become a public health problem? More than just entertainment, these games seem to have unexpected global repercussions.
Addiction to online games is worrying. A report of The Lancet reveals that the phenomenon affects 450 million people around the world. Adolescents and young adults are particularly vulnerable. Yet the market is exploding. In Australiagambling losses are at record highs, with A$1,555 per adult every year. This increase is explained by easier access and marketing target.
With technology, playing has become accessible with just one click. According to Professor Heather Wardle, every phone becomes a gaming platform, exponent users at risk 24 hours a day.
These games have various consequences. The financial losses are obvious, but the damage goes deeper, affecting mental health, relationships and economic stability. A danger that still seems largely ignored. Children are also affected. Exposed to the advertisements for these games, they quickly become accustomed to them. Before the era digitalthis marketing was inaccessible to them.
Governments are called upon to react. According to the public health commission, strict regulations are essential to counter the destructive effects of these games. In Europe, certain countries are taking action. Belgium and Spain, for example, limit the advertisement on games, hoping to reduce their impact on young people.
The commission calls for global awareness. Without intervention, these games will continue to spread and their harmful effects will continue to grow, posing a major health problem.
What is gambling addiction?
Gambling addiction is defined as a behavioral disorder where a person cannot stop betting, even when aware of the negative impacts on their life. This type of addiction is marked by repetitive and compulsive gambling habits that often lead to significant financial losses, relationship problems and mental health problems.
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Gaming addiction is not just a habit, but a pathology classified as a mental disorder. It shares similarities with other addictions such as alcoholism, by influencing brain circuits that promote impulsive behavior and research strong sensations. Individuals who suffer from it continue to bet, hoping to recoup their losses or achieve an “ultimate gain”, which reinforces the circle vicious of addiction.
Online games of chance amplify this phenomenon by offering instant and permanent access, often from a simple smartphone. Targeted marketing techniques and game mechanics designed to encourage repeated betting increase mental health risks, making this addiction a real public health problem.
How is online gambling addictive?
Online gambling games are designed to encourage addictive behavior. Indeed, the platforms exploit elements such as immediate gratification, random rewards, and attractive sound and visual effects. These techniques stimulate the reward circuit of the braincreating a feeling of pleasure with every victory, no matter how small.
Constant access, enabled by smartphones, reinforces this dependence. Users can play 24 hours a day, increasing opportunities to bet and immerse themselves in the game, without geographical or time barriers. Online games are therefore more difficult to stop than traditional games, which promotes addiction.
Advertising also plays a major role. Targeted campaigns, particularly towards young people, are omnipresent on social networks and in video games. They normalize gambling and make it attractive, which encourages a wider and younger audience to engage in risky practices.
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