Video Games Deemed More Addictive than Online Casino Gambling Games

Written by Haylie | Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

Dr. Douglas Gentile, an Iowa State University Assistant Professor of Psychology, did a study on addictiveness of online gambling and video games. The study did not specifically compare video games and online gambling, but the result implied that in comparison to online gambling, video games are more addictive for children.

It was found that almost ten percent of participants of his study were pathologically addicted to video games. Lawmakers disagree with legalized online gambling because they say that children could become addicted. These studies though, are implying that video games are much worse.

Observer Neal Miller said that, “There is no doubt with the advancements in video game technology that many children in the US could become addicted to these games. The difference between video games and online gambling, however, is that the online gambling can be controlled by regulation, the video games are freely available to these children.”

Gentile explained that playing video games is not just addictive to children, but is also stopping productivity. He even uses the word pathological to describe what is going on. He says, “What we mean by pathological use is that something someone is doing, in this case, playing video games, is damaging to their function. It’s simply not doing it a lot. It has to harm functioning in many ways.”

The children in the study that showed addiction to video games were playing double the amount that the others were playing. Also, they were not focusing well in school, their grades had dropped, and they even stole in order to support the habit.

Miller stated that, “What this study indicates is that video game playing in the US is exactly what these lawmakers are trying to stop with online gambling. These politicians maybe should look at this study and say, ‘Hey, maybe we are going after the wrong form of entertainment (online gambling).”

Resources:

http://www.casinogamblingweb.com/gambling-news/online-casino /video_games_more_addictive_than_online_casino_games_51123.html

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