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Psychologists are unanimous: gambling requires sustainable self-control, mature risk assessment and emotion management skills - all this is formed by adulthood. Below are scientifically based arguments.

1. Unfinished development of the prefrontal cortex

1. The role of the prefrontal cortex

Responsible for planning, controlling impulses and making informed decisions.
2. Maturation timing

Complete anatomical and functional maturation occurs by the age of 20-25.
3. Implications for betting

Until the age of 18, a teenager is not able to postpone a momentary desire and assess long-term losses.

2. Increased impulsivity and emotional lability

1. Impulsive solutions

Teenagers are prone to instant "catching up" after losing.
2. "Tilt" states

Emotional outbursts lead to aggressive rate buildup.
3. Lack of emotional resilience

The ability to refocus and exit the game at the first signs of stress has not been formed.

3. Lack of money management experience

1. Building financial skills

The maturity of financial thinking comes along with first labor income and budgeting.
2. Debt dependency risk

Excitement without understanding loans and obligations is fraught with early debts.
3. Assessing the value of money

Teenagers have not yet formed a clear sense of the cost of losses.

4. High vulnerability to group pressure

1. Social conformism

The desire to "be like everyone else" reinforces the motivation to try betting.
2. Influence of "stream heroes"

Teenagers imitate bloggers and idols perceive risk as the norm.
3. Lack of critical thinking

There is a lack of advertising filtering skills and gambling "tricks" of marketers.

5. Constraint generation

1. Increased neurobiological sensitivity

The adolescent brain responds more strongly to dopamine "bursts" when winning.
2. Risk of early addiction

Closer to the age of 18, the likelihood of a transition from "hawat" to pathological attraction increases significantly.
3. Treatment difficulties

The younger the onset of addiction, the more difficult it is to overcome it later.

6. Practical conclusions of psychologists

1. Deferred access to 18 years

Gives time to form control, financial planning skills and emotional endurance.
2. Developing alternative skills

Sports, hobbies and training help the teenager channel energy into a safe channel.
3. Educational programs

School financial literacy classes and impulse management training reduce the appeal of excitement.

Result

The approach at 18 as a threshold for gambling is based on neuroscience, psychology and social practice: by this age, key functions of self-control, emotion and financial management are formed, which dramatically reduces the risk of early gambling addiction and debt.