Quebec Experts Warn of Hidden Gambling Addiction Threat in Video Games

The addictive nature of gaming and the various mechanics it uses to keep all eyes glued to the screen attract the attention of researchers and experts around the globe. This Saturday saw Quebec’s Musée de la Civilization spark the conversation during the Semaine numériQC and highlight gambling features kids are exposed to while gaming on the regular and their effect in relation to problem gambling.

There are various mechanisms that can make a certain activity addictive and able to bring excitement on a regular basis. Nowadays video gaming and social media are among the most captivating pastime activities people are exposed to. Among the most prominent casino features added to those online realms is the vertical swipe-to-refresh that very much resembles the lever pulling of a traditional slot machine.

Gambling Mechanisms in Gaming

In addition to that, there are also the rewards for participation and accomplishments that are granted in an irregular pattern, as to keep the player alert at all times. This also prevents the player from stepping away from gaming. The gathering that took place this weekend aimed to showcase more on the problematic topic and spark the conversation on the addictive nature of video gaming.

Maude Bonenfant, a professor in the department of social and public communication at the University of Quebec in Montreal, spoke about the rewards system used in video games. She pointed out that signature casino mechanisms and the element of chance are what makes video gaming even more addictive. Players find it hard to put an end to their gaming sessions that tend to last longer.

There are also the notorious loot boxes with rewards distributed in a random manner and including in-game purchases. Younger players are especially prone to taking advantage of their parents’ credit card and buying such loot boxes guaranteeing them premium in-game items. The element of chance means that the player pays a certain amount and then relies on luck to bag the most valuable reward.

Regulation Needed for Player Protection

Mrs. Bonefant suggested that the gambling characteristics of video gaming should be subjected to regulation, aiming to protect young and impressionable minds. This would ensure that players are not predisposed to gambling addiction later on in life. One Canadian Pediatric Society survey showed results that lifetime prevalence rates of pathological gambling for adults reach 2 percent.

When it comes to adolescents, the prevalence could reach two to four times higher. Within Quebec solely, some 80 percent of adolescents have gambled for money at least once in their life. About 15 percent of them face the risk of developing gambling problems, whereas some 4 percent of them already struggle with gambling addiction.

The addictive nature of gaming has been studied in Ontario by Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use part of the Provincial System Support Program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Reports have shown that some 250,000 Ontarians of legal age battle gambling addiction. Meanwhile, some 13 percent of students in Ontario report symptoms of compulsive video gaming, also related to potential gambling issues down the road.