Young adults combat compulsive gambling with technology by participating in online sports betting, video and social media games, and raffles. Elizabeth Thielen, senior director of Nicasa Behavioral Health Services in Lake County, Illinois, emphasized these points during the webinar “Level Up: Syncing Youth and Technology to Power Down Underage Gambling.” A notable trend involves TikTok users betting on the gender of the person answering when they call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Technology’s Role in Compulsive Gambling Among Young Adults
“Traditional gambling platforms still attract young audiences,” Thielen observed. “Moreover, new avenues of gambling continue to emerge, sometimes masquerading as trendy activities.” The International Center for Responsible Gaming hosted the webinar where Thielen highlighted reaching out to young adults who are at risk of gambling addiction. These individuals are tech-savvy, possess credit or debit cards, and understand various forms of digital currency.
Thielen shared, “One of my clients, a young woman adept at using lending apps, is channeling her expertise directly into online gambling.” Despite her past experience with gambling addiction, Thielen remains impartial toward gambling itself. “Our goal isn’t to eliminate gambling but to mitigate gambling harm,” she said.
Aware of their vulnerability, Thielen urges gambling counselors to partner with young adults in crafting preventative messages. She explains, “A college student’s advice resonates better with peers than from someone my age.” This advice aligns with Thielen’s daily experience of handling multiple requests for help, often exceeding her capacity due to funding constraints.
Meeting Young Adults Where Technology Thrives
To make a difference, Thielen insists on reaching young people through digital platforms, where they often seek guidance from influencers. “We need more proactive conversations about gambling prevention on social media,” she stated. In leveraging these tools, emerging adults can combat compulsive gambling effectively. Read more news.
