title: Social casino gaming and adolescents: Should we be concerned and is regulation in sight?
abstract: While gambling has traditionally been viewed as an adult activity, there is a growing body of research that a significant number of adolescents are not only gambling but are experiencing gambling related problems. As ease of access via Internet wagering has increased, so too have some of the concomitant problems. Social casino gambling, often thought of gambling without risking one's money through the use of virtual currency, has become increasingly popular. The current review examines whether we should be concerned over its widespread use and whether such social games should be regulated.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behaviors, McGill University, 3724 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC H3A 1Y2, Canada. Electronic address: Jeffrey.derevensky@mcgill.ca.
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Derevensky
authors.affiliation: Centre for Gambling Education & Research, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: sally.gainsbury@scu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Sally M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gainsbury
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D005715:Gambling / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D020407:Internet; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012201:Reward
keywords: Addiction; Gambling; Government regulation; Mental health; Policy development; Youth