Children as young as 11 gambling due to celebrity endorsements
Discover alarming findings related to children’s online exposure to betting content and how it influences their desire to gamble.
According to recent reports commissioned by the UK’s leading gambling charity, GambleAware, a staggering 90% of children aged 13-17 have reportedly been exposed to betting content online. This exposure often comes via social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch.
These findings have prompted several calls to action for regulatory bodies and policymakers. The heightened exposure to betting content is due to sports stars and celebrity influencers sharing links and codes, inspiring particularly boys aged 16-17 to follow suit.
In one survey with 2,100 participants aged 11-17, 25% indicated that they had been drawn to gambling after seeing a celebrity or sports star endorsing it. Male participants in the 16-17 age bracket showed an increased influence at 36%.
Interestingly, despite the overwhelming exposure and resulting interest, about four out of five children agree that those under 18 should not be exposed to betting content.
Another study focusing on 13-17 year-olds revealed that 16% of those surveyed had noticed content creators sharing links and codes to betting operators, with 14% reporting they had seen betting tips and tricks online.
Comment from Allen Carr’s Easyway
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