Children exposed to gambling mechanics before they understand money

Gambling-style mechanics are becoming a routine part of children’s digital lives, appearing in online games, mobile apps and even sports betting advertisements that surround popular media.

University of Cincinnati experts warned in a recent WKRC-TV Local 12 report that long before children understand the value of money, they are learning the emotional highs and lows associated with risk. Online games, such as Roblox and Fortnite, offer fast-paced rewards that can keep children glued to screens.

Inside those games, spending real money doesn't always feel real. Some parents say the pressure to spend is constant. Some families reported spending nearly $100 a month on in-game purchases. One child estimated spending between $200 and $250.

Gaming experts say that disconnect between money and value is troubling.

The UC College of Medicine's Daniel Bebo, MD, associate professor of clinical medicine in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, said games built around risk vs. reward systems activate the same dopamine pathways in the brain as gambling. Repeated exposure can lead to tolerance, potentially causing children to play longer, spend more and chase bigger rewards.

That doesn’t mean every child will develop a gambling problem, Bebo said. But exposure matters.

"About 2% to 3% of adults struggle with gambling disorder," Bebo said. "For children, it is closer to 4%."

Gregory Stewart, PhD, associate professor-educator in UC's School of Social Work in the College of Allied Health Sciences, works to combat problem gambling. He said risks existed even before legalization. Data from December 2022 showed about 250,000 Ohioans were at risk of problem gambling, and Stewart believes that number has grown.

What begins as play does not always stay that way. As children grow, the games change — but the reward systems remain. Experts warn that by the time money feels real, the lesson about risk may already be learned.

Watch the full WKRC-TV Local 12 report here.

Featured image at top: Two kids online gaming on devices while under a blanket. Photo/iStock/miljko.