“Every smartphone is a whole casino.” That is how Chief Superintendent Avi Ayash, head of investigations for Israel Police’s Northern District, describes what he sees as one of the most troubling side effects of the FIFA World Cup, which begins next week.
He is warning that the tournament could trigger a surge in online sports betting among teenagers, a phenomenon that authorities say has already reached widespread and dangerous levels.
“The way adults perceive gambling is completely different from the reality of gambling among our youth,” Ayash told ynet. “Every smartphone is a whole casino, and any teenager can instantly connect to countless gambling platforms around the world. Anyone who still imagines an…