Betting on ANY sports with underage players

[universal4]

Similar to the possible problems arising with e-sport betting as discussed here
https://www.gpwa.org/forum/do-you-be...es-249640.html

We have seen issues that resulted in operator fines such as discussed here
https://www.gpwa.org/forum/sweden-fi...ng-249753.html

A 16 year old won a fortnite tournament
Sweden fined operators for accepting bets on any games with players under 19

And now I see that 15 year old Coco Gauff has won again and will now advance in the US Open.

In some sports there are built-in restrictions that stop underage players from competing, such as a 14 year old would never gain the needed experience behind the wheel and likely could not be an F1 driver, or a 15 year old would never have the strength or physical capabilities to play NFL Football, in most logical scenarios.

If a 15 year old can win tennis matches or golf games against the older pros, shouldn't they be allowed to compete? It seems that more and more, many sports could suddenly have underage players competing, and this would almost immediately mean that bookies would be accepting bets on games involving what their country considers underage players.

Is it ok to bet on young players or children?

If you are against betting on children, at what age is it ok? 10 - 12 - 15 - 18?

What plans or changes will operators have to look at going forward in some of these cases? Will they have to stop taking bets on certain games? Or will they only have to stop taking bets on certain games in some countries?


Where will the lines be drawn?

Rick
Universal4

[Cash Bonus]

You make some good and reasonable points here. I'm against betting on children and personally, I think it should be at least age 18 for any bets to be placed. A 15 year old to me would still have the mind of a child and every year makes a difference mentally as we get older. By the time I was 18, I felt a lot different to when I was 15 or younger. I realised that I had a better understanding of my surroundings and where I was headed with regards to finishing college and finding work. I also think that casino operators will have to stop taking bets on certain games in the general sense of it all.

When you say "If a 15 year old can win tennis matches or golf games against the older pros, shouldn't they be allowed to compete?" It would make sense to allow them to compete. I don't see why this wouldn't be a possibility. As you also mention, I think it would also depend on how world countries view what underage is and isn't. I'm certain that they will all have their own opinions about this.

[TheGooner]

I'm OK with betting on open professional competitions - even if some exceptional competitors are under 18.
When there is prize money at stake then I'm OK with it having media attention and sanctioned betting markets.
And youngsters entering professional tournaments should be prepared by their handlers to handle all facets.

(To be honest if you are competing at the US open - the last thing on your mind is the fact that people can bet on you)

Amateur competitions (whatever the age level of the competitors) should be out-of-bounds.

So to specifically address your areas :
- Yes you can bet on the US tennis open even if 15-yo Coco Graf is playing - but you can't bet on the U16 age groups (boys / girls events).
- Yes you can bet on Fortnite competitions with a million dollars prize money if it's open to ANYONE - not if it's U16 or U18 restricted.
- No you cannot bet on the little League world series.
- No you cannot bet on any competition with an U16 or U18 age restriction.
- No you should not be able to bet on amateur competitions which attract little to no crowds and are being played for enjoyment. (minor football)

[Mattbar]

It's certainly an interesting discussion. It would be almost impossible to enforce for say a football match though. This weekend alone 10's if not 100's of professional under 18 players went onto the field with and were not only subject to betting on but half will have gambling logos on their shirts.

What happens in a football game, for example, where the starting 11 are all over 18 but then a 17-year-old comes on as a substitute? Do we then suspend betting on that match?

[Sherlock]

I do not know what is the problem with betting on players with underage games and what is the problem on betting on fixed matches.

The under age case is totally ridiculous nonsense. Indeed the restrictions will come, because the restrictors just restrict and since there is nothing at least a bit restrictable, it is all just a joke.

Obviously the only restriction that maybe makes sense is forbidding the underage betting, but even that is questionable for me. I was betting from my 14 years. Losing money I made with my own work. I was able to understand that this is really not the way to make money before I turned 18 actually. I was probably lucky because young brain is more flexible and can learn much better than old brain. Nothing is solved if people are allowed to gamble, use legal or illegal drugs or watch porn or have sex at certain age, when one day everything is grave sin and second day everything is allowed. In the past all sex/gambling/drugs restrictions were in place, but they were not heavily enforced and I believe it was much better way, because we all knew we should not do it, but we did it anyways and we at least had a chance to learn. Nowadays there is not such a grace period. I am sure - if the goal is to minimise the destruction - it is far the best from all the bad approaches to have laissez-faire approach. But indeed things went so far as Hitler to Moscow, so current trend is unstoppable until the liberals from cafes will be swept by alt-right movement and something even more ugly will appear.

As for the betting on fixed matches, I really see no problem. It is not paid from state budget. Anyone is free to watch price movements, anyone is free to make money on that (it is the last possibility nowadays to make money with betting and I know people who follow the price movements of [probably] mafia). Betting on fixed matches is like betting on stock market. Even at stock market is someone who has always insider info (yes, de iure it is forbidden). I think laws should solve some general problems and not a problem of betting companies. They should be able to profile players and restrict betting whenever they want/need.