The event to present the data of the new "Sold to Minors" survey, year 2023, was held this morning in the Zuccari Room of the Senate of the Republic. This is a survey of 1.359 children between the ages of 10 and 17 conducted by MOIGE – Italian Parents' Movement, in collaboration with the Piepoli Institute, to analyze the phenomenon of the sale of prohibited or unsuitable products to minors: alcohol, tobacco, gioco d’azzardo, cannabis, pornography, video games 18+ and counterfeit products.
GAMBLING AND MINORS
83% (-4% compared to 2021) of children are aware of the fact that often playing games with cash winnings can have negative consequences, but only 47% (-9%) believe that these can be serious and permanent . 79% know that this type of activity is prohibited for children under 18, 7% believe that the minimum age is 16, for 5% it is sufficient to be 14 and for 9% it is never prohibited. 18% (+4% compared to 2021) have played at least once at betting agencies, bars, tobacconists, bingo halls, or other similar places. The most popular type of game among minors is scratch cards (37%, followed by sports betting (21%), slot machines and super gameslotto (both 9%). At commercial businesses, only 41% say their age was checked (an improvement of 6% compared to 2021), 57% of managers did not refuse to let a minor play. However, as regards online gaming with cash winnings, 13% have played it at least once (+7% since the last survey). Online, mainly sports betting is done (7%), but also poker (in all its variants), bingo, casino and video lottery. On 71% of sites there are notices declaring that game illegal for children under 18, but at the time of registration, either the age is not asked (27%), or, simply, the kids are lying (53%) .
VIDEO GAMES 18+ AND MINORS
Young people playing video games are increasing, only 28% declare they never play them (-10% compared to 2021). 32% play for over 2 hours a day (+4%), 71% play connected online (36% always or often). 36% play alone, while 34% play with friends connected online, 20% play with friends in person and 3% play with strangers connected online. The favorite games are action and adventure games (38%), but also sports (18%). The most used device is the smartphone (47%), followed by video game consoles (37%). 38% of minors interviewed believe that games with violent or vulgar content have no consequences on their mental well-being (+6% from 2021). 10% (+2% from 2021) believe that there are no bans on games with violent and vulgar content, and 61% admit to having played at least once with video games prohibited for their age (+5%).
