1 in 4 Belgian youngsters already gamble for money

Gambling seems like an innocent pastime, but for many youngsters the danger starts with a simple scratch card. Hendrik Peuskens, psychiatrist and head of Addiction Care at the Alexianen care group in Tienen, warns that the risk of a gambling addiction can arise at an early age. A study by the Flemish expertise center for Alcohol and other Drugs (VAD) shows that 1 in 4 minors has already gambled for money. This is a great concern for experts.

Scratch cards popular among youngsters

Scratch cards are especially popular among youngsters between the ages of twelve and fourteen. A quarter of this group has already bought a scratch card, although these may not be sold to minors. Peuskens explains why this is so worrying.

“A scratch card has a short attention span. You buy it, get tense and scratch immediately to see if you have won. This stimulation can be the first step towards a gambling addiction.”

Hendrik Peuskens

He warns that the younger you start gambling, the more likely you are to become addicted later. He explains that when the brain feels that adrenaline rush early on, a pattern of risky behavior is created that is very difficult to break.

New rules, but still concerns about exceptions

Since September, the rules around gambling have become stricter. For example, gambling advertising is prohibited and gamblers are only allowed to participate in games from the age of 21. However, the National Lottery is an exception: young people aged 18 and over are still allowed to play their games, such as scratch cards.

Peuskens believes that this exception urgently needs to be revised. 

“The world has changed. Lottery games have been around for a long time, but nowadays the range of gambling games is much larger and more accessible. Online gambling makes it all even easier.”

The psychiatrist states that the rules should focus more on the characteristics of the game itself rather than on the company that produces it. Tom Evenepoel of De Druglijn agrees and advocates raising the minimum age to 21 for all gambling games. 

Why some gambling games are more addictive than others

What makes one game of chance more dangerous than another? According to Peuskens, a large part of the risk lies in the accessibility of a game. The digitalization of games has considerably lowered the barriers to entry: online casinos are now at our fingertips, transforming our pockets into real gambling halls. This ease of access encourages more frequent and impulsive practice.

Games offering quick results, such as scratch cards, are also very tempting. Instant gratification reinforces the desire to play again, creating a vicious circle. A loss encourages you to immediately try your luck again in the hope of recovering your stakes.

Finally, a major risk lies in the illusion of control. Many players tend to believe that they can influence the results of the game, which is a fundamental error. This false belief pushes them to persevere, convinced that a simple question of luck separates them from a win.

“This is dangerous, because with games of chance you have no influence on the outcome. People often think that they have just been unlucky and that is why they continue to play.”

Gambling can be just as harmful as drugs

Peuskens highlights the particularly harmful nature of gambling addiction. Although it does not present the same physical dangers as addiction to substances such as alcohol or drugs, it can nevertheless have devastating consequences on a person’s life. Indeed, the brain mechanisms involved are similar: gambling triggers a release of dopamine and endorphins, neurotransmitters responsible for pleasure and reward, just like drugs. The consequences of this addiction can be dramatic. Compulsive gamblers often face significant financial difficulties, even losing their home or job.

“It is an underestimated problem, because gambling is legal over the age of 21. But gambling addiction is an official disorder and must be taken seriously.”