Online gambling includes games you play online that allow you to make bets and win or lose money or things of value. It also includes online games that let you bet with virtual coins or tokens.
These games often combine skill and chance, which makes them exciting and keeps players coming back for more. You can gamble on devices, like game consoles, smartphones, tablets, or computers.
Some online games might not look like gambling at first. But if they allow you to wager something for a chance to win or offer features like loot boxes or spins for rewards, they can still trigger the same parts of the brain that are involved in gambling. Research shows that even playing with pretend money can increase the risk of gambling problems later in life.
This is because gambling affects your brain’s reward system, in much the same way that substances like alcohol or cannabis do. It can give you a rush or “high,” which your brain starts to crave more often. The earlier you start gambling, the more likely you are to have problems with it as you get older.
"No one has ever taught me how much time is too much time to spend on my phone. No one tracks my use, but I’ve heard there’s an app that tracks how much time you spend on your phone and that you should keep your phone outside of your bedroom. We learn lots about drugs and alcohol and sexual health, but we’ve never had someone talk to us about digital technology.
I think that it’s really important that parents, teachers, and healthcare providers talk to us about digital technology and are good role models. I also think that adults need to be realistic, especially from a youth perspective. No one will stop using social media or technology, so you’ll get a better response if you talk about spending less time on them instead."
– Anonymous youth
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