Gambling
CHILDREN AND GAMBLING
There is a notion that gambling is just about betting shops, casinos, the races and sports betting, and as long as we keep these away from our children, we as parents are doing our job.
However, the lottery, scratch cards, video games, gaming apps, game and slot machines, and card games are also forms of gambling (although less serious) that our children are exposed to everyday. From here a child can start their journey from just having a bit of fun with gambling into being a serious gambler and as they get older moving onto betting shops and so on.
Gambling is a behavioural addiction.
IS GAMBLING A PROBLEM FOR CHILDREN IN THE UK?
In November 2022 a study by the gambling commission said that nearly 1% of children aged between 11 – 16 years of age had a problem with gambling. That is about 55,000.00 children.
The national audit office has said that another 85,000.00 children are at risk of becoming problem gamblers.
THE LAW AND CHILD GAMBLING?
Under section 45 (174) of the gambling act 2005 a child is any person under 16 years of age. A person between 16 – 18 years is a young person.
Under section 46 – 48 (175) of the gambling act 2005 children and young people, in broader terms, are not permitted to gamble.
Under section 46 – 48 (176) of the gambling act 2005 there are exceptions and they are:
- Children/young people may participate in all forms of private and non-commercial gaming and betting.
- Children/young people may participate in lotteries and pool betting on association football,
- Children/young people may use a gaming machine with the lowest stakes. This is category D betting.
WHAT ARE CATEGORY A, B, C AND D GAMING MACHINES?
Gambling machines are classified as A, B, C or D depending upon their maximum stake and the prizes available.
Category A gaming machines – These gaming machines have unlimited stakes and prizes. There are none in the UK
Category B gaming machines –
- B1 gaming machines – The stake is £5 and the maximum prize is £10,000.00 – £20,000.00. Only 2005 act and 1968 act casinos can have these machines.
- B2 gaming machines – The maximum stake is £2 and the maximum prize is £500. They are permitted in 2005 act and 1968 act casinos and betting shops. Category B2 machines can offer category B3 and C games.
- B3 gaming machines – The maximum stake is £2 and the maximum prize is £500. They are permitted in 2005 act and 1968 act casinos, bingo premises, adult gaming centres and betting shops. Category B2 machines can offer category B3, C and D games
- B3A gaming machines – The maximum stake is £2 and the maximum prize is £500. They are found in working men’s clubs or members clubs. They are lottery style games. These are not found in commercial clubs and premises.
- B4 gaming machines – The maximum stake is £2 and the maximum prize is £400. These are found in members clubs, bingo premises, adult gaming centres, and betting shops.
Category C gaming machines – The maximum stake is £1 and the maximum prize is £100. These are usually in pubs, bingo premises, betting shops and other alcohol licenced premises.
Category D gaming machines – These are low stake fruit machines, coin pushing machines and crane grab machines.The maximum stakes are between 10p and £1 and the maximum prize is between £5 – £50. These machines are found in bingo halls, betting shops, pubs, adult gaming centres, and travelling fairs.
SOME REASONS WHY A CHILD WOULD GAMBLE?
There are many reasons why a child could gamble?
- To cope with traumatic events in their lives
- It can be a form of escapism
- Peer pressure
- Boredom
- Experimentation
- Normalisation of gambling by playing games
- Phones allow children to gamble online anytime.
- It’s fun.
- It’s part of everyday life and there’s nothing wrong with it.
- A social activity.
CAN GAMES THAT CHILDREN PLAY ENCOURAGE THEM TO GAMBLE?
Some games that children play encourage them to spend money as they play them. These are called in-game purchases. Players will have to pay for coins, tokens to progress forward and sometimes open a loot box. This process of paying more money to continue the game encourages and normalises gambling.
Some apps and games that are available online can be played free. However children can become addicted to them and thus to gambling because these games and apps mimic gambling and have gambling themes and content.
Some games and apps allow chat and messaging between gamers so they can bet with each other.
Some social media influencers can encourage online gaming and thus online gambling.
WHAT HARM CAN GAMBLING DO TO YOUR CHILD?
Gambling, especially if your child is addicted to or has a problem with gambling, can lead to financial problems, health issues and other problems:
- Financial problems
- Losing money
- Getting into debt by borrowing money
- Stealing money to gamble
- Selling their things to pay for gambling.
- Health issues
- Insomnia
- Agitation
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Depressions
- Other problems
- Loss of friends because your child is spending all their time playing games
- Neglecting family to play games on gaming sites
- Your child is constantly angry and frustrated.
- School work suffers
- Truancy
- Anti-social behaviour
- Can encourage smoking, drinking and drug taking
- Exposure to risky websites if gambling online
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN AWAY FROM GAMBLING?
There are many things you can do to discourage your child from gambling:
- Encourage other extracurricular activities like music, sport, reading and art.
- Monitor the games they play and try to reduce the ones where there are in game purchases.
- Monitor your child’s internet behaviour.
- Use internet parental controls so your child cannot access gambling sites
- Set screen and internet limits for your children. They cannot spend any more time on the internet than is set by you.
- Keep your computers and laptops in rooms where you can see what your child is doing.
- Take your child’s phone away at night so your child cannot go online and gamble.
- Make sure you know your child’s friends and what they chat about online.
- Half a frank discussion with your child about the negatives of gambling. Show them online stories of people who have lost their wealth, homes and families because of gambling.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU FIND OUT YOUR CHILD IS GAMBLING?
It can be very shocking, traumatising and overwhelming to discover your child is gambling and could be addicted. Of course you will want to help them stop their addiction and reverse the path they are on.
We have written this section to inform you that you are not alone and there is much help out there for you. Here are some suggestions:
Contact your GP
Make an appointment for your child with your GP. Go with your child and explain everything to your GP. They will help. They can refer your child to any local gambling treatment services or support groups.
Contact your child’s school
The school staff member in charge of dealing with gambling issues, the pastoral care team and the safeguarding lead will help you and refer you to any local gambling treatment services or support groups. If they cannot, they will guide you where to go..
Contact your local authority
Go onto your local authority website and there will be a section detailing help available for those who gamble. There will be a telephone number and an email address. Contact them for help. They will also refer you to your local gambling treatment services or support groups.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
Contact the National Gambling Helpline
The National Gambling Helpline is free and available 24 hours a day. Call 0808 8020 133
LINK TO NATIONAL GAMBLING HELPLINE – TALK TO US NOW
Contact the National Problem Gambling Clinic
This service provides help and gambling treatments for children aged 13 and over. Call on 0207 381 7722 or email gambling.cnwl@nhs.net
LINK TO NHS WEBSITE FOR NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING CLINIC
Contact Gordon Moody
The Gordon Moody organisation can provide help for you and your child. Call on 01384 241292. Email – help@gordonmoody.org.uk
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR GORDON MOODY
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR GAMBLING THERAPY
Contact Gamblers Anonymous
This organisation can help with support groups. Call on 0330 094 0322 and email on info@gamblersanonymous.org.uk
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR GAMANON SUPPORT GROUPS
Read the following webpages – click on the links below
LINK TO NHS WEBSITE FOR HELP WITH PROBLEMS WITH GAMBLING
LINK TO NHS WEBSITE FOR NORTHERN GAMBLING SERVICE
LINK TO NHS WEBSITE FOR SOUTHERN GAMBLING SERVICE
LINK TO NHS WEBSITE FOR WEST MIDLANDS GAMBLING HARM CLINIC
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR NATIONAL DEBTLINE
LINK TO ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRIST FOR GAMBLING DISORDER
WHERE ELSE CAN YOU AS A PARENT TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
You can contact NSPCC – If your child is gambling you can contact the NSPCC and speak to them about your concerns. If the child is in danger they will call the police.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR NSPCC – CONTACT US
You can contact FAMILY LIVES – Family lives was previously known as parentline. You can speak to them about your concerns that your child is gambling.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR FAMILY LIVES – CONTACT US
You can contact SAMARITANS – The samaritans are a free organisation that you can talk to about gambling. Call their helpline on 116 123. They are available 24 hours a day. You can email them, chat online or write them a letter.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR SAMARITANS – CONTACT US
You can contact SUPPORTLINE – Supportline can provide confidential emotional support over the phone. Their helpline number is 01708 765 200. You can also email them.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR SUPPORTLINE – CONTACT US
You can contact your local authority child services – You can call them directly or look on their website to see if there are any local support groups where you can get support.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
You can contact VICTIM SUPPORT – Victim support is a charity that can help individuals who have been the victim of a crime. They have a free confidential support telephone line and live chat. They are independent of the police.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR VICTIM SUPPORT – CONTACT US
You can contact other organisations –
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE TO CONNECT WITH CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS THAT COULD HELP YOU.
You can read our help guide for where you can reach out to get help if your child is a victim –
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE FOR WHERE CAN YOU REACH OUT TO GET HELP IF YOUR CHILD IS A VICTIM
WHERE CAN YOUR CHILD TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
Your child can contact CHILDLINE – If your child has been gambling and they need to talk to someone, they can call childline.