Recently, I was having lunch with my teenage niece, who was anxious and constantly checking her mobile phone. She was distracted and couldn’t seem to focus on our conversation. I asked her if there was anything wrong, and she stated that there wasn’t any emergency; she just couldn’t put her phone down; she admitted she was addicted to her smartphone. Obsession with mobile phones isn’t unusual in today’s world, especially among young people, and most don’t recognize it can become addictive. But my niece developed another addiction of greater concern: she was gambling online. I wondered: could excessive smartphone use contribute to adolescent and adult problem online gambling?
Smartphone Use & Addiction
According to Pew Research, 90 percent of Americans own a smartphone. Over half (56.9 percent) of Americans say they’re addicted to their phones, and that is only for those who admit it (Source: Reviews.org). The average American spends 5 hours and 16 minutes on their smartphone and checks it 144 times every day, according to Harmony Healthcare IT.
Current studies indicate that 95 percent of adolescents aged 14 to 17 have almost constant access to a smartphone, and 90 percent of these adolescents use their mobile phone to go online frequently. The Italian Journal of Pediatrics reported that most American children own a smartphone by age 11 and use it 4 hours or more per day. Smartphone addiction usually starts during childhood, most likely due to early exposure and the ability to navigate these devices at an early age.
It’s no surprise that our phones can become addictive; it is equipped to do a multitude of things, including shopping, engaging in social media, and gaming. When we check our phones, our brains release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation, which increases with one’s screen time (Source: Piedmont Healthcare). It is released when we experience something enjoyable or anticipate a reward.
Engaging with screens, especially through activities like social media or gaming, can trigger dopamine release in the brain’s reward system. This dopamine surge can be reinforcing, potentially leading to a cycle where individuals seek more screen time to experience the same pleasurable sensation. When it fades, it causes psychological distress that is relieved by doing more of the activity. The individual is encouraged to keep going with push notifications to “play another game,” “keep shopping,” or other encouragements to continue online activity (Source: University of Washington). But unfortunately, the public is unaware that overuse can become troublesome and lead to other addictive behaviors.
Online Gambling
One mobile activity that generates a high level of dopamine and can lead to serious addiction is online gambling. It is highly advertised and attractive since it is socially acceptable, convenient/easily accessible and enables wagers to be placed quickly and anonymously. Technological advancements, such as improvements to mobile technology, enhanced graphics, and user-friendly interfaces, make mobile gambling even more appealing and provide the opportunity to make bets impulsively.
Birches Health found that unlike in-person gambling, where individuals must take physical steps to continue play, such as withdrawing cash or loading a card, online gambling eliminates much of this effort. The ability to gamble instantly from a smartphone or computer reduces natural boundaries that might otherwise prompt self-reflection or pauses.
Gambling’s increased accessibility is well-documented, and new research highlights the growing risks associated with online betting to a greater extent. A Data Corp study indicated that online gambling is “more addictive, isolating, and damaging than traditional, in-person betting. And while society has clear protocols for addressing alcohol misuse, gambling still lags in both awareness and access to treatment.”
The University of Washington School of Medicine reported that “addictive behaviors like gambling can be even harder to stop when you do so on your mobile device. They activate the same reward centers in the brain as addictive substances like drugs and alcohol.”
Problem Gambling
Problem gambling has surged over the years with the rise of legalized sports betting and 24-hour online casino games. The National Council on Problem Gambling reported that 1 percent of the general U.S. adult (18+) population, over 2 million people, experience a gambling disorder every year; another 4-6 million (2-3 percent) are considered to have mild or moderate gambling problems. However, it is challenging to specifically identify just how many people are affected by problem gambling, since most victims are too ashamed to seek help and since there are no physical signs like those exhibited with drug or alcohol dependence. It is a “hidden addiction” which is usually acknowledged when people have lost their jobs, bank accounts, and relationships.
When it comes to the issue of smartphone overuse, coupled with a propensity to gamble online, the scenario is of considerable concern. Both addictions are “hidden” in nature. Both are accessible and socially acceptable. And most people do not realize they have an addiction to either until their lives are significantly affected.
Underage Gambling
Familiarity with and reliance upon smartphone use is excessive amongst kids since it is used to socialize and play games, which can be a precursor to online gambling and result in adolescent addiction. It is unclear how many adolescents are betting online since it is illegal to do so for those under legal age. However, studies have consistently shown that a large portion of young people bet on sports through the anonymity of online platforms (Source: The National Institute of Health).
Like smartphone addiction, a younger age of gambling play increases the likelihood of developing a gambling problem. Young people are especially vulnerable due to their developing brains (Source: RG.org), and research indicates that an adolescent brain’s reward system responds more strongly to the excitement and potential rewards of gambling. This, coupled with a lack of financial literacy to manage losses, can result in significant stress, instability, and debt, whereby a young person may resort to stealing to sustain their gambling habits.
Underage gambling can impact school performance, attendance, and relationships with family and friends, and can result in legal consequences. Kids may lose interest in hobbies and social activities, leading to isolation, while suffering from anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, especially after experiencing losses. They are also more likely to develop a co-addiction with alcohol, nicotine, and illegal drug use. However, gambling addiction doesn’t only affect the gambler; it also impacts families due to its financial nature. There have been instances when kids wager anonymously online using a parent’s credit card, leading to unmanageable debt, without mom or dad’s knowledge.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, more young people than ever before are developing a gambling problem, with 10 to 15 percent of young people experiencing a significant problem, compared to fewer than 4 percent of adults. Studies of young people over the last 10 years report that about 8 percent of adolescents, 12 to 17 years old, can be considered problem gamblers, with many saying that they began gambling at about 10 years old. A survey from the University of Minnesota indicated that youth are at four times the risk of adults for developing pathological (compulsive) gambling: 6 percent of teens who have tried gambling develop the most severe form of gambling addiction (pathological gambling), compared to about 1.5 percent of adults.
In reviewing the statistics and studies, there is no doubt that a strong correlation exists between smartphone use and gambling addiction, especially among young people.
Steps to Address & Prevent
If you suspect a loved one may have a smartphone or gambling addiction, answer the following questions:
- Is my behavior or my loved one’s behavior interfering with life?
- Is it affecting relationships?
- Has there been a decline in work or academic performance?
- Has there been an increase in absenteeism?
If the answer to most of these questions is “yes” it is likely that a problem exists.
While steps to prevent smartphone and gambling addiction involve setting time limits, like those identified in responsible gaming (RG) guidelines, problem gambling prevention also includes setting financial limits by setting a budget to wager (i.e., how much money one can afford to lose and sticking to it). RG stresses the importance of viewing gambling as entertainment, resisting the urge to gamble more to recoup losses, and avoiding gambling under the influence. These factors, however, may be extremely difficult for a young person to follow and for parents to identify, which contributes to the urgency of addressing underage gambling.
The Need for Education
The most significant factor contributing to smartphone and gambling addiction is a lack of knowledge, and many don’t realize that excessive gambling can easily result in catastrophic life circumstances. Public Service Announcements are long overdue, and education programs in our middle and high schools should include information about excessive smartphone use and gambling addiction.
Parents should limit screentime and openly discuss the dangers of gambling with children and teenagers and explain related risks and consequences, while also being mindful that their habits are observed by their children and do their best to be a good example.
Resources & Help
If you suspect you have a smartphone addiction, Piedmont Health suggests the following:
- Monitor how often you or your child reaches for the phone. Consider downloading an app that identifies how many times a phone is checked daily.
- Turn off notifications. Constant alerts can create unrest and even fear (“What could this call be about?”)
- Set phones aside during meals.
- Enjoy phone-free mornings. It will help to start your day with clarity, which is hard to do when you are bombarded by news, texts, and alerts.
- Limit screen time to 30 minutes to an hour before bed.
To prevent or address a gambling addiction, there are several software applications that can be installed on devices and routers to block access to gambling websites and apps, such as Net Nanny, Qustodio, Norton Family, Gamban, and BetBlocker, to protect children and adults. If you are experiencing a gambling problem, reach out for support. The National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER offers confidential help 24/7 and provides information about support groups and therapists specializing in gambling addiction. Thankfully, my niece sought help by contacting the helpline and is currently in recovery.
Felicia Grondin is the owner of ArchAngel Agency International, LLC, a consultancy providing public affairs, research and planning service Over the last three decades she addressed public policy and gambling related issues and executed related research, while serving as executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, legislative liaison of the NJ Casino Control Commission and as associate director of Stockton University’s Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality & Tourism.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
