Peer-reviewed article
Exploring Gambling-like Behaviors in Children's Cigarette Card Games and Parental Pro-game Perceptions in China: A Qualitative Study.
Weng X, Deng Y, Xia Y, Wang J, Chan SS et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This qualitative study examined how children in China engage with cigarette card games and found that these games contain gambling-like features that can normalize tobacco use. Children were drawn to the thrill of obtaining rare cards through chance-based mechanics, similar to gambling rewards. Parents often viewed these games as healthy outdoor alternatives to screen time and actively facilitated their children's participation, not recognizing the gambling and tobacco normalization risks involved.
Key points
- Children experienced gambling-like reward-driven engagement when collecting rare cigarette cards
- Peer influence and social reinforcement around these games strengthened friendships but risked excluding non-players
- Parents misperceived cigarette card games as healthier than screen time and beneficial for outdoor socialization
- Parents actively facilitated access to cigarette cards and rationalized their support as aiding child socialization
- The combination of gambling-like mechanics and tobacco imagery, amplified by parental participation, may normalize both gambling and tobacco use in children
Limitations
This qualitative study of 21 child-parent dyads from China provides rich descriptive insights but cannot quantify the prevalence of gambling-like behaviors or establish causal links between cigarette card games and gambling or tobacco use. The small and purposive sample limits generalizability to other contexts or populations.
Abstract
Cigarette card games emerged as a popular yet controversial pastime among children in China, raising concerns on the potential to foster gambling-like behaviors. This study explored children's experiences and perceptions of cigarette card games, as well as parental attitudes and facilitation practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 child-parent dyads (19 boys, 2 girls) from September to December 2024. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were adopted to recruit children who had played cigarette card games in the past 1 month. Separate interview protocols were developed for children and parents to ensure age-appropriate communication. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke's framework, with dual coding and triangulation. Four key themes emerged: (1) Chance and reward-driven engagement, where children linked the thrill of obtaining rare cards to gambling; (2) Peer influence and social reinforcement, which strengthened friendships but risked excluding non-players; (3) Parental misperceptions, viewing the games as healthier alternatives to screen time that promote outdoor activity; and (4) Parental facilitation, including sourcing cards through networks and rationalizing support as aiding socialization. These patterns indicate that cigarette card games may expose children to gambling-like reward systems and normalize tobacco-related imagery, with parental participation further amplifying such exposure and acceptance. Cigarette card games blend gambling-like features with early tobacco normalization, amplified by parental pro-game practices. Public health interventions should target both children and parents, promoting awareness of gambling risks and guiding families toward safe, prosocial forms of play.