7/2/2024 - politics-and-society

The hidden face of soccer: sports betting and youth gambling addiction

By Jerónimo Alonso

The hidden face of soccer: sports betting and youth gambling addiction

The most football-filled months have already begun to the joy of all lovers of this sport. The most important month for national teams is here with the European Championship in the afternoon and the Copa America at night. There is a lot of excitement and enjoyment, but beneath this iceberg that this time of the year brings lies a deeper concern, which is increasingly growing: sports betting applications and the rise of gambling addiction, which is appearing at an increasingly younger age in children.

Gambling addiction is increasingly present.

When searching on the Internet for “sports betting,” the first thing that appears are the day’s bets and recommendations, while the problem and addiction to gambling are much further down.

According to the WHO, gambling addiction is an emotional disorder that affects many aspects of daily life. It is characterized by the inability to control or stop gambling behavior despite the negative consequences it has on a person’s life.

In the country, the business is growing alarmingly. According to Opia Argentina, three out of ten people know someone in their social circle affected by gambling addiction, where 9% of respondents admitted to being bettors. However, the focus of concern is on young people because the participation rate in these types of transactions is almost double the average, reaching 16%.

While the practice is legal, the requirements are almost nonexistent. It is no longer necessary to be eighteen years old for gambling; you only need to enter your name and a virtual wallet to withdraw money and receive the winnings if the user succeeds. Specialists indicate that the starting age is around fifteen years old (much more frequent in boys than in girls), but several psychologists and psychiatrists have reported receiving consultations from parents with even younger children.

The ease of access, where all you need is a cellphone with the Internet, is heavily accompanied by a large number of Tiktokers, influencers, and streamers who invite people into this new world without warning about the deep problems that gambling addiction brings.

Everywhere at the same time.

If you look at social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), it is almost impossible not to come across an influencer, journalist, page, etc., promoting an application and offering a discount code for that day’s games. Additionally, most of them recommend some very tempting bet or combination that, if it happens, could multiply the money wagered. Winning a lot of money through speculation seems within anyone’s reach if De Paul gets a yellow card, Messi takes 1.5 shots on goal, or Canada’s fullback commits 2.5 fouls before the first half ends.

Online betting houses don’t just stick to social networks, and their huge investment capital is conquering various aspects of football. In Argentine football alone, Boca, River, Racing, Estudiantes, among others, are sponsored by them, and it’s no coincidence that they are always the top candidates to have more revenue and free advertising when their company appears in the newspaper. While the games are being played, the commentator reminds the fans that the tournament (Copa America, Copa Argentina, Professional League, etc.) is named after one of these houses and that if you register at that moment, they will give you money to bet and see that it is very easy to win thanks to your knowledge. Even the world champion team, where the idols of many youngsters play, is sponsored by Bet Warrior.

What the advertising hides.

After each game, content creators and regular users proudly share the success of their bet combinations. However, as in a physical casino, the house will always be the big winner, and statistically, the player will lose more than they win. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the huge business it is today.

Behind each moment of happiness, there are gamblers (increasingly younger) whose finances and mental health are becoming more damaged. The new forms of gambling, exploited since the pandemic with early exposure to screens, have invaded different individuals, leading to a decline in work or school performance and even breaking family ties. The gambler experiences matches differently since, during the ninety minutes, they will think more about their money than the outcome. They might celebrate more that Argentina had +4.5 corners because it's in their bet combination than Lautaro's last-minute goal against Chile, which sealed the qualification to the quarterfinals.

The cases reported by the media, together with the accelerated boom, have been one of the reasons why alarms started ringing in different governments. Even the betting houses have recently started preventative campaigns about ages and risks that may exist, but they have done so very late and lightly when the issue has already escalated into major problems.

Awareness and Education: Campaigns to Protect Youth.

What can governments do to regulate the business and protect the youth? The Internet is increasingly uncontrollable by countries since it exceeds territorial limits and has no fixed nationality. In Argentina, the online system is provincial, meaning there is no national law regulating it; each jurisdiction decides how to regulate the activity. In total, 17 of the 24 provinces (including CABA) have opted for a regulatory framework.

For the start of the Copa America, the city government announced measures to regulate that market on the web and eliminate illegal sites, alongside awareness campaigns. Among them, no new licenses for operators, access was blocked to enter the pages from public school Wi-Fi and BA Wi-Fi, consultation and treatment spaces were enabled, and a specialized prosecutor’s office for illegal gambling will be established.

Gambling addiction in online casinos is a growing concern, especially among the youth, who are more susceptible to its effects due to the easy access and attractiveness of these platforms. The combination of factors like advanced technology, aggressive advertising, and lack of adequate regulation has exacerbated this issue. It is imperative that both authorities and gambling companies take responsible measures to protect the youth by promoting safe gambling practices and offering support resources for those affected by this addiction. Through these efforts, the risks can be mitigated, and a safer environment for players can be ensured.

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Jerónimo Alonso

Jerónimo Alonso

My name is Jerónimo and I am 20 years old. I am currently in my third year of my Communication Sciences degree at the University of Buenos Aires.

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