Fast Forward: Claire’s Story-My Son’s Addiction to Gaming and Loot Boxes

Welcome to the latest "Let’s Hae a Wee Blether Aboot Gambling in Scotland" podcast, brought to you by Fast Forward’s Scottish Gambling Education Hub.

In this episode, we look at the challenges faced by Claire around her adopted son’s addiction to gaming and some of the gambling style mechanics such as loot boxes. Claire talks about how her son’s interest in gaming quickly turned into an obsession and then into something which consumed his entire life, throughout his childhood and even into his late teens. She talks about the impact that this has had on both her son and also the wider family and how difficult it has been, to find the balance between giving her son his freedom as a young adult, and ensuring that he is safe and aware of the risks arising from excessive gaming. In this episode, you will hear about the ups and downs but also hear how Claire and her family keep a positive perspective on her son’s outlook as he moves into full time employment and how this has impacted upon his gaming. 

Listener discretion is advised as we will be talking about some potentially triggering topics.  This podcast discusses various issues around gambling. If you are worried about, or affected by the gambling of someone close to you, please know that you are not alone and confidential support is available.

The following links are designed to provide signposting to further support available: 

• The National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133
  Part of the National Gambling Support Network National Gambling Support Network | BeGambleAware Advisers are trained to support people affected by the gambling of someone close to them
• Gordon Moody https://gordonmoody.org.uk 
• GamFam Home - GamFam Peer support for anyone affected by the gambling of someone close to you
• GAMSTOP: Gambling self-exclusion scheme https://www.gamstop.co.uk/
• Gamban: Block access to gambling on your devices https://gamban.com/
• RCA Trust Gambling Treatment and Support Provider https://www.rcatrust.org.uk/
• Papyrus Youth Suicide Charity https://www.papyrus-uk.org/
• www.parentzone.org.uk- resources, tools and information on the online world 
• Internet Matters www.internetmatter.org  
• Young Minds https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/gaming/
• NSPCC https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/
• A video explaining Loot Boxes (from Leon Xiao) https://biteable.com/watch/3818355/363b01ccaefdd94d2fcab3c6f343951d