PLoS ONE (Jan 2022)

Adolescent betting on esports using cash and skins: Links with gaming, monetary gambling, and problematic gambling.

  • Nerilee Hing,
  • Lisa Lole,
  • Alex M T Russell,
  • Matthew Rockloff,
  • Daniel L King,
  • Matthew Browne,
  • Philip Newall,
  • Nancy Greer

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266571
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 5
p. e0266571

Abstract

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Adolescents can easily access esports betting sites and place bets using cash or skins. This descriptive cross-sectional study examined the characteristics of adolescent esports bettors and relationships between their esports betting, video gaming activities, monetary gambling participation, and at-risk/problem gambling. Two survey samples of Australians aged 12-17 years were recruited through advertisements (n = 841) and online panel providers (n = 826). In both samples, gender and parents' living situation did not differ by past-month esports cash and skin betting, but recent esports betting was associated with engaging in esports gaming activities such as playing and watching esports, and in monetary gambling activities. Past-month esports betting using cash and skins was significantly associated with at-risk/problem gambling. After controlling for recent monetary gambling, recent esports skin bettors were over 3 times more likely to meet criteria for at-risk/problem gambling. Esports betting using skins appears to pose risks for young people and is easily accessible through unlicensed operators.