Youth and Gambling

Information for Parents:

Have you ever wondered if gambling will effect your child/teen or if it really effects any children/teen? Aren’t young people too young to gambling anyway? Research suggests that the more gambling venues that are accessible, the amount of involvement in gambling type activities will increase. Within our community people have the opportunity to participate in lotteries, bingo, casino gambling, sports betting, raffles, internet gambling sites, card games, games of skill, etc, etc, etc… You might be surprised at how many types of gambling activities young people are actually involved with, and often they don’t even realize that they are participating in. Youth report involvement most frequently with card games, games of skill (pool, golf), dice games and other informal types of gambling. In addition, they report partaking in under age or ‘formal’ type gambling such as lottery/scratch/ break-open tickets, casino gambling, racetrack events and Internet gambling.

Gambling is currently a “normalized” occurrence in today’s society and that gambling for youth is considered the “new rite of passage”. Did you know that the #1 place people learn to gamble is with their family? We are aware that just because someone gambles it does not mean they are a problem gambler; however, teens experience problems 2-4x more than adults. They may not have a lot of valuables but are impacted in other ways as well, which include an emotional and cognitive impact. Frequently our children are the forgotten; we often fail to recognize their involvement, how they are influenced to gamble and how someone else's gambling effects them.

So just be aware and understand the signs that may indicate a problem. Youth that develop 'Problem Gambling' issues frequently:

• Have poor general coping skills
• Are at increased risk for suicide ideation and suicide attempts
• Have lower self-esteem
• Report beginning gambling at earlier ages, approximately 10 years of age
• Replace old friends with gambling associates
• Move rapidly from social gambler to problem gambler.
• Are at increased risk for the development of other problematic behaviours such as substance use.

It is important to talk to teens because they are exposed to gambling practically every day. This happens through the media, television ads, newspapers, using the home computer even walking into most corner stores. For many, gambling will remain a harmless activity but for others, it will have a significant life impact.

Possible signs of gambling:

• Pre-occupation with gambling to the exclusion of other interests.
• Calling 900 numbers for sports scores
• Missing money or possessions in the house
• Using lunch or bus money to gamble
• Coming to parents for money to pay a gambling debt
• Displays unexplained wealth
• Unusual interest in sports scores and point spreads
• An unexplained need for money
• Tickets purchasing (lottery, scratch, break open, etc.)
• Gambling paraphernalia
• Increased irritability or hostility
• Missing school or work to gamble

We have come to realize that educating our youth about the realities of gambling is important. Here is a fun game at PBS kids that the youth may enjoy that teaches about probability: Fun Coin Toss Game for Kids

Are your children effected by someone’s gambling?

The impact on children: (Source: Iain Brown, 1986 /AADAC, 1994):

• Children often feel abandoned or betrayed by people close to them
• Financial difficulty lead to families unable to afford things, which include school supplies, lunches, recreational opportunities, etc.
• Children may not be able to count on the non-gambling parent as many parents become overwhelmed by the fall out of the gambling or related stress.
• Many children have difficulty controlling their behaviour or the pent-up anger as a result of limited coping
• Some children are left unattended without adequate supervision
• Role changes- children become "parentified" by being given added responsibility
• Children frequently feel responsible for parent’s behaviour and family tension

Information for teachers/schools:

There are a number of difficult issues that today's youth are facing. Many wonder whether or even if gambling is an important issue. Research demonstrates that not only do youth gamble but also for some it becomes a significant problem.

Gambling is defined as "risking something of value (money or possessions) where there is a chance of winning or losing." Of course this includes playing cards, dice games or video games for money, buying raffle tickets, betting on who's going to win the next game of pool, or wagering a favourite CD on the outcome of a sports event - it's all gambling.

For most, it's just for fun. It's a way of making the game more challenging, more exciting. But for some, gambling becomes a serious problem.

Recognizable signs:

1. Students missing classes
2. Students arguing over wins or loses
3. Trading of possessions
4. Using lunch money or bus fare in order to play games
5. Gambling paraphernalia
6. Unexplained wealth

School presentations are available upon request and staff availability.

Topics available:

• Dealing with gaming/gambling: “HIGH RISKS" Behaviours, peer pressure, leisure planning and coping skills.
• Teens & Gambling
• Early Prevention Program ("High on Life Game") geared to the grade 5’s