Digital gambling a risk for young people

Salerno said her daughter Montana saw the colourful apples and pears in the pokies game and wanted to play.

"I'm absolutely appalled by it," Salerno told reporters.

"I had to sit Montana down and explain to her it was an adult's game and it's not for kids."

Adelaide university researcher Daniel King says parents need to become more vigilant as more gambling games are marketed to lure young people.

His research found 40 per cent of young people who played simulated gambling games reported a preoccupation or intention to gamble in the future with many accessing games through social media, smartphone apps and video games.

"The real strategy is to engage young people in gambling applications, developing their familiarity with the game," he told reporters.

"(Then) have them learn the fundamentals of gambling and offer an easy way to transition from that form of gambling to money-based gambling."

While not all young people who played would become problem gamblers, early exposure could accelerate the risk, Dr King said.

"For a vulnerable segment of the youth population there's a risk that these could accelerate their gambling career or at least set up faulty expectations," Dr King said.

Salerno said many parents were not aware of the dangers of children being exposed to online gambling games.

She said it was appalling marketers were targeting kids.

"I don't want my kids' innocence taken away because of this rubbish."

The research surveyed 1287 teenagers aged between 12 and 17.

Source: AAP