While social casinos are marketed as harmless, free-to-play entertainment, their massive growth and resemblance to real gambling raise serious questions about their role in youth exposure and potential harm. This session reveals the blurred lines between social gaming and gambling, especially in unregulated environments, and explores how these platforms might be inadvertently grooming young users for future gambling behaviours. Evaluating how social casinos replicate gambling mechanics and reward systems, and why this can be problematic for younger audiences. Analysing how influencer-driven promotions on platforms like YouTube and TikTok can glamorise gambling-like experiences to underage audiences. Discussing best practices in game design, age gating, transparency, and player education to prevent youth harm while preserving innovation in social gaming