I was recently asked a key question I'd not yet been asked at any of my Talks. I didn't have an exact answer but felt it was important to know and to be prepared if this were to come up again. I had to ask my son, a recovering gaming addict, this poignant question. And after hearing his reply, I was inspired to write the following blog. This topic relates to the expression "It's not a problem until it's a problem." And as Robert Downey Jr once said, "Its easy to stop an addiction, its making...

I’d like to share some thoughts on the differences between loot boxes and gambling: You always GAIN something from loot boxes. Whereas in gambling, there is also the possibly that you may LOSE as well. You can’t gain financially from loot boxes as you do in gambling. Putting money into a loot box never gives you money in return like gambling does. Even though these two things don’t match the criteria for gambling that you listed in this tread, they are two significant differences. In this...

Hello Bill, Please find the attached document, "A Guide for Counsellors Working with Problem Gambling Clients from Ethno-cultural Communities." On page 16 there is content related to your question. Best, Lisa

Great video. Thanks for sharing. Also, to note is that gamers are purchasing Skins (virtual goods) within a game, believing they enhance their online social status (they believe those who have attained many of these Skins must be better players) when they have no direct influence on the outcome of their game play. In terms of reducing or avoiding financial disaster, besides never giving a child their credit card, parents can help a child create a budget and use the child's earned or gifted...

I was curious about this as well. I went on line to see what the registration process was like. It seems as though you have to deposit money in an account in order for the transactions to happen. I didn't see a link to add a credit card number or arrange direct deposit. If I am correct, then that might be a good way for people to manage their lottery buying habits as they will have to put the money up front for their purchases. It will also have people be more mindful of how much they are...

Sharron, I did a quick search on Google Scholar using various key words but did not find any relevant articles on the topic in the research literature. I would assume how much income you can make depends on the hours you invest per week, the size of the bets, your level of ability at skills like card counting, the form of gambling (poker, blackjack, sports betting) and luck. I would also assume that the level of income one should be making in order to consider it as a career would be one...

Hi Shannon, This article we published in 2013 is dated but has information income from a small US sample of professional gamblers. I hope it helps. It's a starting point. Jeremiah

Amazing @Registered Member! Thank you so much, I have already downloaded a copy (and attached here in case others are curious to check it out). Also, I would welcome an updated article.

Hi Olive I can't find the original document but it is called Ontario's problem - gambling Strategy and it has been in existence since 1996. Since 1999, it has been funded by a formula of 2 percent of gross slot machine revenue from charity casinos and slots at racetracks. The Strategy has a three-pronged approach consisting of treatment, prevention/awareness and research. I have attached a review of the strategy that was conducted in 2005. You can also find some information about it at the...

Great question Mahfuz What I find often is that parents are rewarding children for following rules, rather than setting up a system where the child has a consequence of losing whatever their personal currency is when they don't follow through with expectations. I suggest parents make a list, that is clear for the child to follow, that contains both personal responsibilities as well as chores that are required. This list can be discussed and created with the child. But some of the items are...

The YMCA-Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP) is looking for Canadian youth 18-26 years old to take part in a focus group on gaming and gambling. The purpose of the focus group is to examine the types of gaming and gambling activities that youth engage in and their experiences with loot boxes/loot crates/player packs, esports, gambling activities etc. Youth will be also presented with questions for an upcoming survey on youth gambling and gaming, and asked for feedback, ideas, and...

Justice and Equity Lab, MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael's Hospital Our lab is creating a self-management app for problem gambling called SPRinG (Supporting People Recovering from Problem Gambling). The SPRinG app is currently being developed to help, first and foremost, persons experiencing poverty and homelessness self-manage their problem gambling and other complex needs by providing people with constant access to support through their smartphone. The app will also...

Hi everyone, A research team at St. Michael’s Hospital has been working with the community to design and develop a self-management app to help people in their recovery from problem gambling. We are entering the user testing phase. The purpose of user testing is to help inform the next phase of app design. We are asking people to answer a 16-question survey. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share the survey link ( https://redcap.utoronto.ca/surveys/?s=CYPWHAAJCHHRCK9D ) with people...

Attached are an article and youtube video on the prevalence of microtransactions in videogames. For those of you who may be unaware, microtransactions are purchases that can be made inside a video game for cosmetic items or gameplay advantages. In many games, these purchases come in the form of a "loot box" system, where the only way to get the item that you are interested in is to "roll" for them, forcing you to buy multiple useless items as well. This is essentially an early introduction...

The article discusses 1) alleged ineffectiveness, 2) alleged Draconian-ness, and 3) emerging evidence of identifiable benefits. Read on if interested in these aspects of the policy! See article attached.

The article discusses 1) alleged ineffectiveness, 2) alleged Draconian-ness, and 3) emerging evidence of identifiable benefits. Read if interested in these aspects of the policy. Reference: Xiao, L.Y. (2022). Reserve your judgement on "Draconian" Chinese video gaming restrictions on children. Commentary on: Draconian policy measures are unlikely to prevent disordered gaming (Colder Carras et al., 2021). Accessed June 3, 2022 at https://www.researchgate.net/p...er_Carras_et_al_2021 (pasted ...

Wow! This is interesting. I totally agree that using a phone when with someone is like not being fully present. Many of us do this without thinking of the impact of a seemingly trivial action. We do this with other things too, like eating and scrolling, etc. We live in a distracted and multi-tasking world. No judgment but there are implications. We are never fully present in whatever we do and go through all of life never being fully present and then come to the end of life, and wonder where...

The YMCA-YGAP is seeking 600 youth ages 16-24 years old for a survey on gaming and gambling. Participation in the survey takes approximately 10 minutes and participants will receive a $15 Amazon.ca e-gift certificate for their time. The data from this survey will contribute to our understanding of gaming and gambling amongst youth and will help improve future educational and prevention initiatives. We hope you might consider sharing the below recruitment flyer with any youth who you think...

I can't get the attachment to open to be able to print/share with colleagues.

Re: Gaming & Gambling Survey: Receive $15 Amazon Gift Card!

The Gambling, Gaming, and Technology Use (GGTU) team creates training products and resources for clinicians working in the area of addictions and mental health. We would love to hear from you through our survey about how we can better serve your training needs. Your participation in our survey allows us to continue to deliver high-quality knowledge mobilization, learning enrichment resources, and programs. The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes. All survey participants will be...

Video games often have elements of gambling, and there are blurred lines between games of skill and games of chance. It’s important to understand the definition of gambling, how the lines are blurred and the signs of a potential problem. The YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP) defines gambling as “risking something of value when you don’t know if you will win or lose.” “It’s a myth that you can only gamble with money,” says Dua Fatima, Youth Outreach Worker for YMCA in Toronto West.

When it comes to gambling, there are many misconceptions — and perhaps the biggest one is that youth don’t (or can’t) gamble. That’s because we often associate gambling with playing poker or blackjack in a casino. But gambling takes many different forms. In fact, 68 per cent of Ontario youth said they participated in a gambling activity in the past 12 months, according to YMCA’s Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP) Youth for Youth Digital Media Awareness Campaign in 2020. YGAP defines...

Youth Gambling Although they may not be of legal age to enter a casino, youth may be already engaging in gambling behavior to some degree, even from a young age — whether that’s making a bet with a rare Pokémon card or playing a claw machine game to win a prize. Gambling at any age has risks associated with it and the potential to cause harm. Some video games have elements of betting or gambling, even in skill-based games. Loot boxes are an example which typically offer players a chance to...

This research study is about addressing loneliness and social isolation among older adults. It was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic to measure the impact of technology to address loneliness and social isolation. The results indicate a need for technology-assisted interventions to be designed and delivered with older adult’s values, motivations and capabilities in mind. The main findings of the study indicate: - Addressing loneliness and social isolation among older adults was a key...