LESC Incursion Highlights
On Monday 23rd of February, Lakes Entrance Secondary College students participated in the Be Ahead of the Game program, presented by Steve Tong from Latrobe Community Health.
Steve encouraged our young people to think critically about the current marketing, technology and gaming landscape that is making gambling increasingly visible, enticing, and accessible to young people. Presenting students with very relevant, real-life examples of how prominently gambling is featured in the gaming world.
Steve highlighted, this is not a message to cease gaming all together, rather a message to look out for signs and symptoms of unhealthy gaming, not only within yourself, but within your peers, and make the necessary changes to keep yourself and others healthy and safe. We hope our students gained valuable insight from this session and are now better equipped to make informed decisions around gaming.
Telling the difference between gaming and gambling
With so many free apps and video games that mimic gambling or feature gambling-like
gameplay, it’s no wonder it’s getting harder to work out the difference between gaming and
gambling. Many of these gambling-themed apps, known as ‘social casino games’ are highly
appealing to youth with their exciting graphics, colours, and sound effects. By using inflated
odds, these games give youth a false impression of how easy it is to win in real life gambling scenarios.
In addition, advertising on many of these apps, social platforms, and online games can direct
players to real gambling sites, creating an easy pathway from simulated gambling to actual
gambling. Not to mention the popular video games like Grand Theft Auto and The Sims that
feature gambling-like game mechanics based on casino games and poker machines.
Australian research shows teens playing these games may:
- think gambling is a normal, everyday activity
- be more inclined to take up gambling
- feel more confident about winning due to false beliefs about gambling odds.
Despite this, parents/care givers can help their youth understand how gambling actually works. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to be an expert before you talk to your teen. The key is to talk to them about how these games make gambling feel normal and can be misleading
about the chances of winning – so next time they come across one of these games, they’ll be
more aware of the risks involved.
Ask your teen about the apps or games they like to play or have a look at the trending games
on the App Store or Google Play together and see if you can spot any gambling-related
features.
Tell them these games might be using inflated odds to make it seem like it’s easy to win or
mention how small in-app purchases can quickly add up.
For more information about games that look and feel like gambling and how to talk to your
teen about them, visit the Be A head of the Game website: beaheadofthegame.vic.gov.au
