A recent study in Norway has identified a correlation between adolescents who play a lot of computer games with a higher risk of developing gambling problems.

Games which rely on players buying things such as loot boxes and skins, while participating in skin betting could see teenagers aged between 12-17 encountering gambling problems later on in life.

Atle Hamar, Director General of the Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority, said: “This research shows what we have suspected and is supported by the experience of the exclusive rights player Norsk Tipping, where players enter the company as experienced players.”

The survey, which was conducted by Spillforsk at the University of Bergen and Professor Ståle Pallesen, states that 27.7% of adolescents had purchased loot boxes in the previous year.

Similarly, 29.4% bought skins with 15.5% of young people participating in skin games.

“Through simulated gambling, young people are socialized into gambling, they learn the technical skills, but they learn a distorted reality where it is easy to win. It is clearly problematic when these young people get older and are exposed to other gambling,” added Pallesen.

Teenagers in the UK are spending more and more on online gaming

Similarly, a report carried out earlier this year by the Gambling Commission found that more and more 11-17 year olds are spending money online.

The study showed that it was mainly teenage boys who were using their money on gaming. Console game FIFA was the biggest culprit, with a case study highlighting that one 13-year-old boy had spent nearly £100 ($131) on FIFA packs (loot boxes) and a further £50 ($66) on points, which are used for in-game purchases.

Games such as Fortnite, Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto are all notorious for featuring in-game purchases that require the player to spend money.

While this study didn’t identify a correlation between gaming and future gambling habits, it did highlight how much teenagers are being targeted in this market.

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