The Research
What is online gambling?
Online gambling is a method of gambling using digital devices with different apps, such as PrizePicks or simplistic games like Minesweeper or Plinko. On the top is a picture of Plinko, a very simple game where the object is to drop balls that each cost a certain amount of money and pray that one multiplies its value by hitting a higher multiplier. In reality, it is already programmed not to let you win. On the bottom is an app called Prizepicks. A little more complex, but with a simple purpose. Bet on different events happening in different sporting events. For example, I can bet that Lebron James will score more than 50 points, and if he does, I get money; if he doesn't, I lose my money. Online gambling can be more serious than real online casinos.
Biggest Apps in the Game
These seemingly friendly apps, like Rainbet or simple sports parlays, drag children into the world of gambling. Many ads and videos on the internet show people winning it big, creating a sense of endless possibilities for the kids watching. Currently, gambling ads have not been age-restricted, so they are considered as normalized as buying a Big Mac from McDonald’s. The ad on the screen here features for Kalshi shows a stock market-like graphic to make it seem almost professional. But in reality, this app lets you bet on anything without restriction. Anything from a sports game to the world ending.
The Slippery Slope of Addiction
This habit of online gambling is shackling these kids with mental health problems, crippling debt, and broken relationships. "You can experience harm from gambling, including addiction, just like you can with alcohol or other drugs," says Debi LaPlante, director of the Division on Addiction at Harvard-affiliated Cambridge Health Alliance. [SOURCE] I was inspired by the Drunkard’s Progress by Nathaniel Currier and decided to create my own version representing the dangers of gambling.
“Placing a bet on sports has never been easier, faster and more alluring, and a flood of celebrity endorsements has even made it appear glamorous.” Chris Serres [SOURCE]
One of my friends' little brothers saw on social media about this website called Vegacas. He saw some fake articles claiming that if you used the bonus code BONUS, you would get a free $2,500, and he thought they were real because the articles stated that Mr. Beast collaborated with this website. He went ahead and did it because it looked legit. What happened next was that his entire Discord account got hacked and started sending inappropriate ads for this website to every single one of his contacts. Then he ended up having to get a new phone because malware was installed on his phone.
