Gambling Features and Monetization in Video Games Create Challenges for Young People, Families, and Clinicians

Orsolya Király; Jasmine Zhang; Zsolt Demetrovics; Dillon T Browne

doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2021.12.003

Gambling Features and Monetization in Video Games Create Challenges for Young People, Families, and Clinicians

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2022 Jul;61(7):854-856. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.12.003. Epub 2021 Dec 15.

Authors

Orsolya Király¹, Jasmine Zhang², Zsolt Demetrovics³, Dillon T Browne²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Psychology at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
² University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Canada.
³ Institute of Psychology at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming at the University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar and the Institute of Psychology at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: zsolt.demetrovics@unigib.edu.gi.

PMID: 34921907
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2021.12.003

Abstract

Video gaming (also known as computer gaming or electronic gaming) has stirred scientific interest since its widespread adoption as a recreational activity in the 1980s. Initial research focused on the negative consequences of violent content and the development of excessive or addictive use by players. Based on evidence showing that some players develop clinically significant addiction-like symptoms such as loss of control and impaired individual, social, and occupational functioning,¹ Gaming Disorder has been recognized as an official diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases, 11^thedition (ICD-11).² However, recent changes in video games have again produced qualitatively new problems.

Publication types

Editorial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Behavior, Addictive*
Gambling* / diagnosis
Humans
Internet
Video Games*