The rise of online gambling sites and apps has made gambling more accessible than ever. In seconds, we can load an app and stake money on poker, roulette, or blackjack – or bet on football games, horse races, presidential elections, and even the Oscars.

As convenient as it is, the ability to wager on almost anything at your fingertips can be disastrous for the estimated 5 million Americans who meet the criteria for compulsive gamblers. 

And what about kids?

In the past, a child would have had to illegally enter an 18+ casino or betting shop to gamble. Today, it’s relatively easy for a minor to access an online gambling platform and start taking their chances – often without fully understanding the risks involved.

The rise in teens gambling online

In our 2024 report, only 39% of parents admitted feeling concerned about their children accessing gambling content online. Yet, youth gambling has recently been described as a “massive public health problem,” with children as young as 10 showing signs of addiction.

Depending on the country or state, the law requires people to be over 18 or 21 to gamble online. Although most online gambling platforms state that they have age restrictions, they often aren’t enforced strongly, if at all. For example, a minor could bypass an age verification process by using information from an older sibling or parent.   

You don’t have to spend long online to see how young people are being drawn into the flashy yet hollow world of gambling through a range of questionable tactics, including:

• Targeted social media ads – Platforms like TikTok and Instagram are guilty of bombarding underage users with gambling ads, often with cartoonish graphics and trendy slang to make betting seem fun and harmless.
• Influencer and streamer promotions – Content creators on Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok normalize gambling by promoting platforms or even streaming their bets, turning high-risk wagers into entertainment.
• Free-to-play gambling apps – Games featuring poker, slots, and blackjack may seem harmless at first, but they frequently push players to purchase in-app currency, blurring the lines between gaming and real gambling.
• Sports betting – Major events like the Super Bowl are flooded with ads for betting platforms, conditioning young fans to associate sports with gambling.
• “Risk-free” betting offers – Promos like “free bets” and “bonus cash” make gambling seem like an easy, no-strings-attached activity.

Loot boxes and gacha games: Gambling gateways?

Gambling platforms and their murky marketing strategies aside, there’s a more insidious way that young people are being unknowingly conditioned to gamble –  through video games.

Loot boxes are virtual items in video games that players can purchase or earn through gameplay, offering randomized rewards like character skins, weapons, or other in-game bonuses. The excitement of not knowing what you’ll get until you open the box, and the prospect of scoring a rare and valuable item, has led to criticism that video games are increasingly resembling gambling platforms. Loot box mechanics can be found in many “free-to-play” mobile games including Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, and Call of Duty: Mobile. 

Gacha games are video games that encourage players to win virtual items like cards and characters through a mechanism, similar to a vending machine, in which players pull, spin, or roll using in-game currency. Like with loot boxes, gacha games are considered akin to gambling and have been criticized for encouraging children to spend large amounts of money in the hopes of winning big. 

At the time of writing, Japan, China, South Korea, Belgium, and the Netherlands have either banned or introduced strict regulations on loot boxes and gacha games due to concerns that they resemble gambling.  

The dangers of gambling online for teens

It might start innocently, but gambling online with digital money or game skins comes with real-life risks that younger people might not fully understand. Irresponsible gambling can have devastating effects on people of all ages but their still-developing brains mean the dangers can be much worse for children.

Addiction and problem gambling

Research has shown that 2% to 7% of young people may develop a gambling disorder as opposed to around 1% of adults. Some attribute this to young brains being more sensitive to dopamine, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter released during gambling wins. This heightened response can make gambling feel even more addictive for teens.

Serious financial loss

One of the biggest pitfalls of gambling is not knowing when to walk away. Since developing brains struggle to assess risk versus reward accurately, teenagers are more likely to fall into dangerous gambling patterns and accumulate significant debt – whether through many small bets or one giant, regrettable wager. In a desperate attempt to keep gambling, a child might even use their parent’s payment card, leading to a nasty surprise when the monthly statement arrives.

Negative impact on mental health

Gambling, especially when started at a young age, can have serious, long-term mental health consequences, including anxiety, stress, depression, and impulse control issues. Teens who gamble are also more likely to engage in other risky behaviors, such as alcohol and substance use; and studies have shown that gambling addicts have the highest suicide rate of any addiction disorder.

Legal issues

If caught gambling underage, some countries and states hold minors accountable, imposing fines or, in extreme cases, even criminal charges – especially if identity fraud is involved, such as using a fake ID to bypass age verification.

How to protect your teen from the dangers of gambling

Sitting alongside other concerning online content like pornography, violence, and illegal substance use, gambling is often overlooked by parents – yet its dangers shouldn’t be. With problem gambling on the rise among young people, we recommend that parents take a more proactive approach to this growing online threat.

1. Learn the warning signs

If your teen is gambling online, they’re likely doing it in secret. However, the following signs might indicate that your child is gambling, and spotting them early can help you step in before it develops into a bigger problem. Note that these aren’t exclusive to online gambling and may point to something else troubling your teen.

• Frequently asking for money or your credit card information
• Increased time spent online
• Behavioral changes such as mood swings, aggression, and depression
• Increased interest in gaming and competition
• Less engagement in school and other activities

2. Model healthy behavior

Research has shown that problem gambling can be passed down through generations, so leading by example should always be a priority. If you enjoy gambling occasionally, avoid doing it in front of your children, encouraging them to join in, placing bets for them, or boasting about your wins. 

3. Set spending rules for games with gambling mechanics

The controversial presence of loot boxes and other gambling-like features in video games can condition kids to gamble without them even realizing it. For many games, you can set spending limits to control how much your child can spend on loot boxes, usually a maximum monthly budget. 

Avoid saving credit or debit card details in the game. To limit how much your child spends on loot boxes and other in-app purchases, consider using gift cards or prepaid cards instead.  

If you want to block the ability to make in-game purchases completely, you can usually do this via the device’s parental controls. For example, for Call of Duty: Mobile on iOS, you can disable in-app purchases by turning on Content & Privacy Restrictions; on Android, this can be done in Play Store settings.

4. Use external parental controls 

For peace of mind, parental control tools like Qustodio can help further protect your child from gambling by allowing you to:

• Block gambling or gaming apps from being opened
• Receive alerts when your child searches for something gambling-related
• Set time limits for gaming apps like Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, and Call of Duty: Mobile.
• “Pull the plug” and immediately pause the internet to stop whatever your child is doing online.

While parents’ focus is often on keeping their kids away from other dark corners of the internet, teens gambling online is a growing concern that shouldn’t be ignored. Despite it being illegal in most places for minors, gambling is hyped up by influencers and streamers, and targeted ads on their favorite platforms mean kids can be lured by “free bets” and other irresistible promotions. Perhaps most concerning, is the concept of loot boxes in video games and gacha games, both of which can condition kids to gamble. 

A child’s still-developing brain means that the possibility of addiction and other dangers of gambling are heightened for minors. To reduce these risks, parents need to take a proactive approach which might include watching out for warning signs, modeling healthy behavior, and using parental controls.  

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Maybe it was a doctor, a veterinarian, or an astronaut. While most of us have settled into careers far removed from what we dreamt of as children, today’s digitally native kids have slightly different aspirations. In a 2024 study, UK children aged 6 to 17 were asked which future profession they would most like to have. Along with “pro gamer” and “soccer player”, “streamer” came out on top.

Live streaming on Twitch, Kick, and other platforms can offer teenagers the opportunity to express themselves, improve social skills, and build a community – and for a very limited few, the chance to get rich and famous. However, broadcasting live on the internet has a unique set of safety risks that parents of wannabe streaming stars need to be aware of.

What is live streaming?

Live streaming, or simply “streaming”, refers to broadcasting live to the world on the internet. Streaming is different from traditional video content, in that it unfolds in real-time, it’s unedited, and it allows viewers to interact with you in the moment. You can live stream on YouTube and all of the main social media platforms, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X; but Twitch and Kick are dedicated streaming platforms, and the most popular options for anyone serious about their streaming.

What do people live stream?

You can live stream while doing pretty much anything; cooking, performing music, painting, working out, or even just talking about your day. However, gaming is by far the most popular streaming category and what most refer to when talking about streaming. Gamers often stream on Twitch, showcasing esports tournaments, playthroughs, speedruns, and game reviews, all while engaging with their audience in real time. The games Fortnite, Minecraft, and League of Legends are among those that dominate the most-watched charts on Twitch.

Why might your child want to become a streamer? 

Your child’s motivation to become a streamer can come from a variety of places. Twitch is one of the most popular entertainment platforms for kids, especially gamers, so it’s no wonder that they may want to emulate the successful streamers they watch daily.

Money is also a big motivator for teenagers looking to become financially independent from their parents – but making big bucks requires a lot of followers. As an estimate, streamers with between 50 and 200 consistent viewers could earn between $50 to $1500 per month. At the other end of the spectrum, a top-tier streamer with 40,000 subscribers could earn $100,000 per month. 

Not all young streamers dream of amassing followers or a fortune. Streaming to an audience, no matter how large can help a child build their confidence and social skills, as well as exercising their creativity. What’s more, some teens use platforms like Twitch simply to connect with friends and family, playing games together and chatting in real time. 

How old do you need to be to stream on Twitch, Kick, and other platforms?

Twitch’s Guide for Parents and Educators states that children above the age of 13 can stream on the platform. It also expresses that users under 18 can only use Twitch under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian – although Twitch doesn’t have a strict verification system to prove that a parent is supervising a minor’s account. Any under 13s found to be streaming on the platform will have their account suspended indefinitely.

Kick’s ToS also states that users must be over 13 (or the age of digital consent in their country) and under 18s must seek the supervision of a parent or guardian before streaming. It’s also 13+ for live streaming on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. The latter allows streaming for under 13s only when they are visibly accompanied by an adult. To go LIVE on TikTok, a user must be over 18, and confirmed with a government-issued ID.

The safety risks for teen streamers

While it isn’t “new”, faster internet, better technology, and social media integration have helped skyrocket live streaming’s popularity in recent years – and so, many of us might not yet be aware of its unique risks to children. 

Cyberbullying

The ability to interact with a streamer in real time is one of the most appealing features of live streaming, and while chat is usually positive, it can be used by those intending to cause harm. 

Live grooming

The popularity of streaming among minors has led to the emergence of a specific form of grooming known as “live grooming.” Predators target young streamers on platforms like Twitch, TikTok, YouTube Live, and others, using live chat to build trust and manipulate minors into potentially dangerous situations.

In-stream chat aside, private messaging, or DMs, is a common way a predator could get close to a minor. On Twitch, private messages, or “whispers”, are automatically disabled for under 18s (but can be manually re-enabled). Other platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook have restrictions on private messaging for minors, but none of these measures are completely foolproof.

Impact on self-esteem

Whether hosting a YouTube channel or streaming on Twitch, putting yourself out there in any form is not for the thin-skinned. The chat feed on a live stream can contain harsh, negative, and even hateful criticisms of the stream or the streamer personally. Your child’s self-esteem might also take a hit if they fail to amass followers or hit the heady heights they dreamed of before starting their streaming journey.

The reality is that only a small fraction of streamers achieve fame and fortune. If your child has unrealistic expectations, they may be left feeling disappointed if those dreams don’t come true any time soon. 

Revealing private information

When we’re relaxed and having fun, it’s easy to overshare without realizing the potential consequences. For children, who may not fully understand the risks of revealing personal information, the dangers are even greater. Sharing details like their real name, location, school, or phone number on a live stream can expose them to serious threats, including doxxing, harassment, scams, and grooming.

Saying or doing something they later regret

Similar to screenshotting a disappearing message on Snapchat, a live streamer could say or do something regrettable in the heat of the moment and, thanks to screen recorders and similar software, it can be immortalized forever. While Twitch does not “allow” viewers to record or download someone else’s stream without permission, the platform can not detect people using screen recording software. 

Gaming addiction

On Twitch, streamers are often praised and rewarded for dedicating long hours to gaming. The fear of disappointing their audience or losing followers can push young streamers to play excessively, increasing the risk of, or even justifying, a gaming addiction.

Dares, challenges, and requests 

In a bid to please and keep their hard-won army of followers, a streamer may resort to accepting dares, challenges and requests. These can range from the seemingly harmless, like doing a TikTok dance or playing a game with one hand, to activities violent or sexual in nature. 

4 tips to help your teen stream safely

The risks are real and numerous, but if after talking it through with your child, you’re happy with allowing them to live stream, you need to get to know the platforms and tools that will help to keep your child safe . For example, Twitch provides safeguard tools like chat filters and stream moderation, plus a dedicated safety team working at all times to prevent harm before it happens.

To help make your teen’s streaming venture a happy and safe one, we suggest combining the platform’s safety features with the following tips.

1. Get involved with their streaming

Consider watching or even participating in your teen’s streams. This allows you to monitor what they say and do on camera while also getting a sense of their interactions with followers. Showing interest in their streaming activities can help build trust, making them more likely to turn to you if something concerning happens online.

2. Have a safety plan

Whichever platform your teen uses to stream, ensure they have the appropriate privacy settings enabled and they know how to report or block troubling users. On Twitch, for example, make sure your teen knows how to block whispers from strangers and ban problematic viewers; and knows how to activate “Shield mode” to protect against sudden chat abuse.

3. Reiterate the importance of privacy 

What’s said or seen in a live stream cannot be edited out. Therefore, it’s doubly important that your teen takes precautions not to give away any personal details to strangers watching their stream. This list isn’t exhaustive, but here are a few ways your child can protect their privacy while streaming:

• Do not reveal real names, addresses, workplaces or schools
• Do not wear school or work uniforms
• Be mindful of what’s visible that could reveal identity or location , i.e. landmarks or street signs from a window, shipping labels on packages
• Consider using a VPN to mask location
• Remind friends not to accidentally dox during a stream by mentioning real names, hometowns, schools, or workplaces.

4. Get a helping hand from parental control tools

Although streaming and social media platforms offer features to protect minors, an external parental control tool like Qustodio can provide an extra layer of security for your teen streamer. With Qustodio, you can track their time on streaming platforms, set limits if needed, or even block access entirely. Plus, you have the power to instantly cut off a stream by pausing the internet.

Live streaming on platforms like Twitch is extremely popular among teens, and many dream of making it big just like their online heroes. Although the chances of them becoming rich and famous are slim, some consider streaming a rewarding pastime that allows teenagers to express themselves while connecting with a community. Streaming does, however, have a unique set of dangers that you and your teen need to be aware of. By optimizing the platform’s safety settings and following the safety tips above, you can help your teen “go live” to the world safely.