“Before, the dominant topic in their conversations was video games. Now, during recess, what the kids talk about is who won and who lost or which platform pays faster,” the teacher with nearly two decades of experience in secondary schools sums up when summing up the current climate.
As she and many of her colleagues note, the age to start online betting is no longer a fringe issue, but an urgent warning sign: boys and girls start playing from the age of 13, often without fully understanding the economic and emotional risks involved in entering an ecosystem designed to retain, entice and breed the habit.
Added to this speed is a hyper-present digital environment, where advertising, algorithms and cloud pressure make betting a common practice.
This is confirmed by the results of a study presented by the Humanitarian Observatory of the Argentine Red Cross based on 11,421 surveys of adolescents throughout the country. The research not only measures the scale of this phenomenon, but also aims to develop tools that enable teens to understand how a rapidly advancing market works with little control.
Among the results of the study, intense exposure appears as the first characteristic of the problem: 6 out of 10 teenagers are connected to online gaming, either through direct participation or through contact through friends, siblings or close adults.
The social circle plays a crucial role: most of those who gamble do so on the recommendation of their peers, and even those who have never gambled know the platforms, methods and odds because the conversation has become everyday in schools, chat groups and networks.
As the study describes, normalization is so strong that many teens no longer view the act of gambling as risky behavior, but rather as another competition, similar to a video game.
The research also points to tangible consequences for mental health: 79% are aware of the risk of addiction, 1 in 8 end up in debt, and more than half suffer from anxiety, insomnia or a negative impact on school performance.
High degree of vulnerability
Although these statements are usually understood as abstract warnings, they become clear when compared to the age of onset: at age 13 or 14, impulsiveness, approval-seeking, and lack of financial tools lead to increased vulnerability.
Another crucial point is the gender gap. Men bet three times more than women and do so more frequently: cultural factors, group pressures and increased circulation of content specifically targeting male audiences combine. Even among those who do not gamble, exposure is very high: up to 79% have seen ads or gambling-related content.
The digital ecosystem makes everything easier. 83% of those who play games use virtual wallets, a fact that shows how little age restrictions matter when access to financial services is app-based. In addition, 43% entered through intermediaries – generally older adults – who opened accounts or provided them with payment methods.
Added to this is widespread confusion about which platforms are legal: most cannot distinguish between licensed sites and those that operate outside the scope of regulation.
Almost without control
The perception of regulatory inadequacy is almost unanimous: 8 out of 10 teens believe that measures to prevent access by minors are ineffective. The result is a clear demand: stricter controls, prevention campaigns, and educational spaces that explain how algorithms work and where to seek help.
“The use of digital wallets and constant advertising are the main entry doors to online betting, without distinguishing between legal and illegal platforms.
Jose Scioli
Director of the Red Cross Humanitarian Observatory
“The data clearly show the risks to boys and girls from the age of 13,” says José Cioli, director of the observatory, for whom the problem requires a comprehensive response, including organisation, education and emotional support. “Permanent advertisements and digital wallets are the gateway.”
They say from the Red Cross that the problem of online betting is growing faster than families and schools can understand it.
For this reason, based on the results of the study, the Argentine Red Cross began developing containment resources. “We are promoting workshops and peer-to-peer prevention spaces, which promote reflection and care. We are also developing materials for families and schools, because we believe in support networks that truly listen and accompany.” “Explains Luciana Marino, Youth Area Coordinator.
Gambling addiction specialists say: “Teens are not seeking recklessness, they are seeking belonging.” “When gambling seems like just another game, prevention should be the same language: trying to help them on an equal footing can be more effective than any gesture of authority.”
“This is not about demonizing technology, it is about understanding that without a common strategy, children are left alone facing a system designed to catch them.”