To begin with: the purpose of this article is to discuss online gambling, reflect on its impact on adolescents, and consider how schools can address the issue.

This is a wide-ranging issue—so much so that the Ministry of Finance, through Administrative Order No. 1,231/2024, aims to prevent addiction and debt by establishing healthy financial practices. However, we will focus solely on education, since other aspects fall under the purview of other sectors, such as the government sector mentioned earlier.

Let's agree that gambling of any kind should not be part of the activities of children and adolescents; even the platforms themselves carry warnings stating that they are for people 18 and older. Therefore, if minors have access to them, something is wrong.

We believe that through dialogue, reliable information, and the development of multiple forms of literacy, we will foster more effective awareness.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t a problem unique to our time: from classic texts like the Bhagavad Gita (dating back to 400 B.C.) to episodes of TV shows like “Everybody Hates Chris,” people have long discussed the consequences of loss and reflected on the choices we make.

And it is very likely that this will continue to exist, taking on new forms that reflect the characteristics of the times and the media in question; that is why we believe that education plays an essential role in helping people understand the factors involved, thereby enabling them to truly grasp how to entertain themselves in a healthy and appropriate way.

The Digital Expansion of Gambling

Digital platforms specializing in sports betting, online casinos, and other games of chance are reaching a growing audience. The world of online gambling has been expanding rapidly. For Professor Jeffrey Derevensky of McGill University, young people’s growing involvement in online gambling represents an epidemic due to the risks and behavioral consequences it is triggering.

It is important to note that human beings, by nature, enjoy playing and having fun. By capitalizing on this inclination, such activities can be viewed as “recreational activities” that offer the promise of financial gains. Any game (digital or analog) is, by definition, structured around rules, strategies, and rewards, which can create a false perception that, in games of chance, the more one plays, the greater the chances of winning. However, to continue participating, one must continually invest time, attention, and, above all, money.

It is worth noting that games of chance, by definition, do not depend on skill but on luck, which can lead to serious financial and emotional problems for users in general, and these problems can be even more severe among adolescents (as stated in the academic literature on the subject).

Play-Based Literacy: Engagement Strategies

Not everything that looks like a game is, in fact, a game. The digital gambling environment blends entertainment with the promise of financial gains, creating an attractive and captivating experience. Technology, by presenting itself in an engaging way, establishes an emotional bond with users, making the risk seem tempting. The immediate pleasure of gambling can be enough to lead someone to engage in behaviors that may become problematic.

The concept of playful literacy, or “ludoliteracy,” is essential to understanding how gaming experiences can become addictive and how our perception of the act of playing can change over time. How can we distinguish between the simple acts of playing, gaming, and gambling? What are the impacts of this practice on our lives and on society?

Digital Literacy: Understanding the Mechanisms

Digital literacy is becoming an essential tool in raising awareness about online gambling. It is crucial to understand how algorithms work and how they can be used to maximize engagement, personalize each user’s experience, and adapt interfaces based on user behavior, thereby encouraging continued use.

That is why it is important for young people to understand how their data is being used and how these platforms tailor their offerings based on each person’s individual preferences.

Financial Literacy: Beyond the Illusion of Profit

Financial literacy is essential for young people to understand the actual odds of winning involved in gambling. By better understanding the odds and risks, they become better equipped to recognize risky behavior and the dangers of debt. The mathematics behind games of chance will show that the odds are never in the player’s favor.

See also:

• What's Left for Education After the Metaverse Hype?
• The ban on cell phone use at school
• Financial education is essential for preparing future generations to manage money

Media literacy: deconstructing narratives

The widespread media coverage of online gambling calls for critical media literacy. It is essential to develop the ability to identify advertising strategies, analyze discourse, evaluate content shared by digital influencers, and understand the economic interests behind appearances and interpretations.

Understanding how platforms structure their messages to attract and engage users can be an effective way to combat the normalization of gambling and the risks it entails.

Understanding Risks and Self-Care

Online gambling poses not only a financial risk but can also significantly affect young people’s psychosocial well-being. Excessive involvement can lead to the development of addictive disorders, mental health problems, social isolation, legal issues, and jeopardize one’s financial future (according to the literature reviewed).

Therefore, it is essential that educational institutions play an active role by creating spaces for critical reflection and addressing issues such as financial education, digital literacy, and the influence of the media. These efforts can help raise awareness more effectively, enabling young people to recognize the risks.

About the author:

*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bett Brasil.

Sources:

MATEO-FLOR, J.; ALGUACIL, M.; GONZÁLEZ-SERRANO, M. H. Gambling and sports betting among teenagers. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 605–614, 2020.

DEREVENSKY, Jeffrey L. Teen Gambling: Understanding a Growing Epidemic. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2012.

GRIFFITHS, Mark D.; PARKE, Jonathan. Adolescent gambling on the Internet: A review. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, vol. 22, no. 1, 2010.

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