Report Finds Over One-Third of B.C. Youth Engaging in Gambling or Money-Based Gaming

More than a third of young people in British Columbia are turning to gambling and money-based gaming, according to a new report by the McCreary Centre Society.

The findings, drawn from the 2023 B.C. Adolescent Health Survey of more than 38,000 students aged 12 to 18, show 34 per cent engaged in at least one gambling or money-related gaming activity in the year prior to the survey. These ranged from betting on sports to purchasing in-game items with real money.

The report notes the overall gambling rate among youth rose two per cent compared to the last survey five years ago, with online sports betting doubling in popularity. Meanwhile, traditional gambling like buying lottery tickets has declined.

McCreary Centre Society executive director Annie Smith said the most common activity was buying in-game items with real money. “We know that gambling is much easier for young people to access when it's online,” she said.

The report found higher gambling rates among youth in the north, Interior and Vancouver Island, with lower rates in Metro Vancouver. It also highlighted that 12 per cent of respondents acknowledged needing help for problematic gaming, and one per cent for gambling.

University of B.C. professor Elizabeth Saewyc said starting young makes addictive behaviours harder to stop and noted that late-night gambling is linked to poor sleep, anxiety and lower school performance.

She urged families to support at-risk youth by setting boundaries on electronics at night, encouraging open, judgment-free conversations, and steering young people toward healthier daytime activities.