From loot boxes to lottery tickets: Gaming & gambling among BC youth aged 12-18

Abstract

In 2021, McCreary Centre Society released a report about gambling among 12–18-year-olds in British Columbia (Understanding the odds: Gambling among BC youth aged 12–18). Since the report was released there has been an expansion of sports betting opportunities in Canada, as well as an increase in awareness of online gambling and video games with gambling elements, including those which encourage the purchase of in-game items. This report considers changes in gambling behaviours over time, looks at the prevalence of gaming and gambling among youth, considers where these activities intersect, and looks at associations with health and well-being. It also considers protective factors that can reduce the risk of youth regularly engaging in gaming and gambling for money. The report uses data from the BC Adolescent Health Survey (BC AHS). The survey is conducted approximately every 5 years in public schools across BC, with the most recent survey completed in 2023. Around 38,500 students participated in the 2023 BC AHS and the findings are considered representative of 98% of students in Grades 7–12 in mainstream public schools across BC.