New Trends, Familiar Risks: Raising Awareness and Preventing Gambling Harms
Gambling continues to evolve. Today, gambling-like experiences can appear outside traditional casinos, sportsbooks, and lottery games. Prediction markets, video games, and collectibles can encourage spending and repeated participation. They can also create excitement around uncertain outcomes.
Therefore, awareness remains an important tool for preventing gambling harms.
When Investing Starts to Feel Like Betting
Prediction Markets are based on binary outcomes, or essentially a coinflip. Either something will happen, or it won’t. Therefore, by risking money on the chance of a desired outcome, prediction markets are a form of gambling.
Prediction markets often use financial language, which can be confusing to readers. Users may believe they are “investing” or “trading” instead of placing traditional bets. These markets can involve sports, politics, weather, entertainment, and breaking news. However, some experiences may feel similar to gambling.
For example, users may focus on uncertain outcomes and possible financial rewards, which is gambling. They may also believe research gives them greater control. In addition, some people may continue participating after losing money. This behavior can resemble chasing losses.
A helpful prevention strategy involves pausing before participating. Ask yourself: Am I making an informed financial decision, or chasing an uncertain outcome? Setting spending limits can also help. Likewise, taking breaks from constantly monitoring markets can reduce potential gambling harms.
Gaming and the Power of Design
Modern video games increasingly use free-to-play models. However, these games often earn money through purchases inside the game.
Players may encounter battle passes, premium currencies, paid boosts, and randomized rewards. Gacha games also use randomized “pull” mechanics. As a result, players may spend real money without receiving their desired item.
Many games also use dark patterns, which are features designed to increase engagement and encourage spending. For example:
- Temporal pressure includes daily rewards, countdowns, and limited-time events. These features can create urgency. Examples:
- Video game daily rewards.
- Gambling apps urgency alerts: Don’t miss out!
- Monetary pressure can include premium currencies and artificial scarcity. Consequently, players may lose track of their actual spending. Examples:
- Video games’ option to pay to skip or win a level.
- Gambling apps progressive prompts to encourage increased spending over time.
- Social pressure may encourage players to invite friends for rewards. Meanwhile, psychological pressure can encourage players to continue playing after difficult challenges. Examples:
- Video games incentives players to invite friends.
- Gambling apps offer rewards/bonuses for friend referrals.
Many of these strategies overlap with techniques used in gambling environments. Fortunately, recognizing these patterns can reduce their influence. Before making a purchase, take a break and consider the decision. Setting spending limits before playing can also help prevent gambling harms.
Collectibles and the Excitement of Uncertainty
Trading cards, blind boxes, and mystery bags have recently gained popularity. Social media and livestreaming have helped drive these trends.
Opening a package can create excitement and anticipation. However, randomized collectibles can also include gambling-like features. For example:
- Rare items create unpredictable rewards. Near misses and limited releases can also encourage repeated purchases.
- Fear of missing out can further increase spending. In addition, online “pack opening” videos may influence young people.
Some collectors also hope to find valuable items for resale. Consequently, they may spend large amounts chasing a rare item. A positive prevention strategy starts with a clear budget. Focus on the enjoyment of collecting instead of potential profits.
Awareness Can Help Prevent Gambling Harms
Technology, entertainment, and consumer trends will continue to change. However, many features connected to gambling harms remain familiar. These features can include uncertain outcomes, repeated spending, chasing losses, and fear of missing out. Fortunately, awareness can help people recognize these patterns early.
Set financial limits. Take regular breaks. Pay attention to emotional reactions involving spending or winning. Most importantly, talk openly with family and friends about gambling-like behaviors. By recognizing emerging risks, individuals can make more informed decisions. Together, awareness and prevention can help reduce gambling harms.
Support Services
If you find yourself struggling with gambling harm, or if you suspect someone you know is facing such challenges, don’t hesitate to seek help. For 24/7 support, call the NYS OASAS HOPEline at 1-877-846-7369 or text 467369. Or choose your county using our interactive map on our NYProblemGamblingHELP.org HOME PAGE to see the contact information for the Problem Gambling Resource Center (PGRC) in your region.
Learn more about gambling harms. Visit the NYCPG Training Center to view upcoming trainings as well as a list of self-paced trainings available to all.