Louise Sallé and Delphine Schiltz 8:14 a.m., October 19, 2022

Sports betting is attracting more and more young players, despite the fact that this practice is prohibited for minors.

One month before the Football World Cup, the risk of addiction is high and parents are not very aware of this subject, even though some sometimes encourage their children to play.

Despite the substantial risks of addiction and despite the fact that this practice is prohibited for minors, sports betting is attracting more and more young players.

According to the Mutual Aid and Psychological Action Society (Sedap), a third of 15-17 year olds played gambling in 2021. A phenomenon measured during the Euro football championship which could well come back in force, at a World Cup month.

>> Find Europe Matin in replay and podcast here

First family sports betting

Parents play a central role in preventing the risk of addiction, but few know the good reflexes to adopt, and the behaviors to avoid.

Young people are also introduced to gambling as a family, like the first glass of wine.

When Adrien, 17, first bet on a match, it was with his father.

"I first talked about it with my parents who gave me their agreement," he says.

"My father told me that he wanted to supervise this practice. So he explained to me how it worked, and we did it once together," he continues.

"After that, I played again either alone or with friends."

Significant consequences on a still young brain

Paul*, 15, also remembers his first sports bet as a family, with his brother.

"He encouraged me to do it," he says.

"So, I gave him 10 euros to go to the tobacco in my place", explains the high school student.

According to Emmanuel Benoît, director of SEDAP and specialist in gambling addictions, these inciting behaviors on the part of relatives psychologically mark adolescents.

>> READ ALSO

- Young people from working-class neighborhoods, favorite target of sports betting sites

"Parents do not suspect that if the child were to win his bet, the emotion caused could be something that would bother him throughout his life!", He argues.

"His brain is not quite mature."

"I have in mind a young man who is 28 today," continues Emmanuel Benoît.

"He started when he was a minor and ended up accumulating more than 30,000 euros in debt after his majority," he explains.

In addition to betting on matches, the director of SEDAP also notices, among the teenagers he receives within his association, an increasingly strong enthusiasm for e-sport betting.

*Name has been changed.