Written by Erica Pandey, author of Axios What’s Next
A slew of apps and games that simulate sports and casino betting are gaining popularity among children.
Why it matters: The line between gaming and gambling is getting blurrier — and social betting, which involves no real money, can lead kids to the real thing, experts say.
The big picture: “Gambling has become normalized in our society,” says Jeff Derevensky, a professor of psychiatry at McGill University and director of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors. “We’re seeing a migration and an integration between gaming and gambling.”
