There is strong evidence to suggest that gambling among youths is on the rise with young adults opting for this form of recreational activity readily. While the numbers are going up this is not necessarily a bad thing as long as people are well-educated and prepared for it.
With the increase of government oversight and the establishment of new regulators to take care of any conflicting issues, being a gambler today, in your early 20s or otherwise, is safer than it has ever been.
Better educated, people who engage in this pastime are well-prepared to play reasonably. Meanwhile, authorities have also done their best to make sure that there are strict rules that guarantee the interest of the gamer over that of the casino.
As a result, an increasing number of young people these days don’t mind participating in the activity as a hobby and enjoy themselves on their own or in the company of others.
Young Gamblers Are Safer Than Ever
Even though there have been some concerns about who gambles and at what age, bookmakers and all gambling companies have been doing their absolute best to narrow down the scope and reach of content that is not appropriate for younger audiences.
The efforts have been rewarding and concentrated, with government institutions, charitable organizations, and regulators stepping in to assist. Media authorities have also been seeking to help youths, by shielding them from any age-inappropriate content.
As a result, the youngest of gamers have been molded by an environment that puts a great emphasis on their safety.
This has had its beneficial effects and today youths are more prepared to address the challenges of gambling. Reckless behavior has been kept to a minimum and individuals who participate in the activity are taught in the best practices.
Those same precautions are also upheld by gambling operators themselves who readily offer a variety of mechanisms intended at helping inexperienced or young gamers stay safe no matter what product they engage with.
This includes a self-exclusion scheme, which means that should you want to stop playing, you can always reach out to your operator and arrange it.
In addition, youths can easily put limits on their maximum deposits, which means that they will never tip over spending more than the specified threshold. In a word, being safe as a young gamer today is quite simple.
Choosing a licensed operator is one of the main conditions, though.
Picking the Safest Casinos for Youth Gamers
With the debate about the safety of young gamers ongoing, one of the best ways to shield this demographic from any adverse effects is to direct them to regulated online casino sites. There, they will find an environment that has been pre-designed to uphold the interest of the gamer while providing a secure way of sharing private information, moving money around and explore games that rely on varying level of chance and skill.
The regulated websites out there are compliant with specific measures that governments have put in place in order to guarantee the safety of everyone involved.
One of the countries with the largest number of NGOs helping gamers of all ages is the United Kingdom, where GamCare, Gamble Responsibly and the UK Gambling Commission are doing an exceptional job of helping everyone stay on top of their gaming efforts and never tip into recklessness.
Advertisement that Raises Awareness
Certain law makers, including ones in Australia and the UK, have been pushing for a more direct way of advertising whereby new and established gamers can be aware of any potential risk the activity carries.
This is just one of the ways that demonstrates how much the focus has moved from the gambling facility to the youthful gamers and their safety.
Even though the number of ads available are quite a few, media regulators have been making sure that they are either beyond the reach of people who are not of the legal age or that, when an individual sees the ad, they will know about any potential dangers there could be.
As a result, youths are growing to be much more sophisticated gamers that remain smart and vigilant about their choices when visiting any form of gambling facility.
Initiatives directed at raising awareness have also been efficient in nipping any dangerous behavior in the bud, allowing youths to grow as responsible and clever gamers.
Esports, The Youths Stomping Ground
Believe it or not, video games are a big hit among youths. The popularity of certain gaming titles has grown so much that today these games are called “electronic sports” or “esports”, and they command significant interest.
The industry as such is worth billions and millions of people from around the world are following the scene and participating in competitions. There is an integrity body called the Esports Integrity Coalition (ESIC), which overseas match fixing and other ethical debates.
And yes, esports are actually something you can bet on. Youths are certainly doing it. In fact, all mainstream gambling companies are a bit reluctant to embrace the segment (although they all do), because youths have become so good at understanding the games.
As a result, companies are losing money on trying to pinpoint the proper outcome of games whereas fans, people who are gaming experts and those generally invested in the community tend to win their bets on popular online sportsbooks from their years of knowledge and research.
In a sense, not all forms of gambling seem to be unfamiliar to youth gamers, and companies should even watch out where esports are concerned.
A Growth That Is Expected to Continue
The involvement of youths with gambling is not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination. However, control and oversight are advised and necessary to ensure that young people are taught in the best practices of the industry.
While there will be certain issues that will need the continuous effort of NGOs, adults, government and gambling businesses themselves, the industry is slated to continue changing for the better, always having the best interest of the gamer.
Whether that’s youths or inexperienced individuals or well-seasoned gamers, safety will continue to improve.
