Are video games encouraging children to gamble?

From Nine To Noon, 9:09 am on 13 November 2017

The Problem Gambling Foundation and a number of psychologists concerned over what they say is an alarming new trend of video games that encourage children to gamble. They're called pay-to-loot systems, where players are prompted to spend real money in return for an upgrade or reward. Psychologists say developers are using the same tactics as casinos to take thousands of dollars from gamers every year... in some cases up to tens of thousands of dollars. And they're questioning whether it's promoting a form of harmful gambling addiction. Kathryn Ryan speaks with Emil Hodzic, a registered psychologist specialising in video game addiction and software misuse, and founder of Video Game Addiction Treatment Clinic; and the chief executive of the Problem Gambling Foundation Paula Snowden.