Candy Crush games have been downloaded more than 2.7 billion times 
Professor Mark Griffiths said these apps give youngsters 'a taste for gambling'
He claims even though no money is at stake it normalizes games like roulette 
The academic claimed 'simulated games are a risk factor for problem gambling'

Children should be banned from playing online games such as Candy Crush to prevent them becoming problem gamblers when they are older, a leading expert has said.

Professor Mark Griffiths warns that the apps give youngsters a taste for betting even if no money is involved, because of ‘simulated’ gambling that enables players to win add-ons to help them progress.

Candy Crush games – which have been downloaded more than 2.7 billion times – include a wheel of fortune-style feature that awards extra moves or other in-game goodies.

Prof Griffiths, who is director of the International Gaming Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University, said: ‘If there is a simulated roulette wheel in a game like Candy Crush, those games should be for adults only, because of the research showing that simulated games are a risk factor for problem gambling.’

Last week the Gambling Commission revealed that 39 per cent of 11- to 16-year-olds spent money on gambling.

Candy Crush developers King did not respond to a request for comment last night, but Jo Twist, chief executive of the Association for UK Interactive Entertainment, said: ‘The industry takes very seriously its responsibility towards people who play games, particularly children.’

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