For Parents
“You would think there are no teen gamblers, they’re invisible because they are so protected by parents.” -Sol Boxenbaum.
Parents need to talk to their kids about gambling in the same way they talk about alcohol and drugs. Many of us naively feel believe that letting our children to gamble at home, small or even large amounts of money, is better than facing the temptations of drug and alcohol use. Gambling is not a safe alternative. Parents should make their children aware that gambling is not a way to make easy money, that the odds are against the player and that they are much more likely to lose than win.
If you are worried about your child, look for confidential Help-Line information under Help Lines.
The Warning Signs
Just like drug and alcohol addiction, compulsive gambling is a serious issue. Gambling addicts experience a need to continue and many youth report getting an adrenalin rush as someone on cocaine.
Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for:
- Poor performance at school, failure to attend classes or grades worsen because of time spent gambling
- Loss of concentration, inability to cope with everyday activities—school work, sports, social activities with friends
- Low self-esteem
- Placing larger and more frequent bets to maintain interest and excitement
- Experiencing mood swings and feeling stressed when not gambling.
- Promising to stop or reduce gambling but has trouble following through with the intended plan
- Lies or is secretive about gambling activities
- Missing personal belongings or cannot cover regular expenses
- Borrowing or taking money from family members or friends to gamble
- Keeps gambling in the belief that he/she can win back the losses and then stop
- Gambles as a means to escape or forget problems
- Gambles as a result of boredom
Consequences of Problem Gambling – Negative Signs
- Youth with gambling problems are at greater risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide and delinquent behavior
- Disrupted family and peer relationships
- Lost friendships
- Criminal and/or delinquent behavior
- Failure at school
- Accumulation of debt.
Positive Signs and Behaviour – A Teen With a Healthy Life-style
- Enhanced self-confidence
- Strong connection to family and friends
- Late onset of alcohol use
- Parental modeling and monitoring
- Participation in community activities
For further information on youth gambling, please visit www.youthgambling.com
FAQ’s
Q. What is the current rate of teen gambling?
Approximately 80% of teens will gamble at least once before finishing high school. Of those 10-14%, particularly males are at risk of developing a gambling problem and an estimated 5% will experience severe gambling problems.
Q. Do teens gamble more than adults?
No, but it is estimated that teens are 2-4 times more likely than adults to become problem gamblers.
Q. What age do youth start gambling?
Some children start gambling as young as 10. The younger somebody starts gambling, the more likely he/she is to develop a gambling problem later on.
Q. Does everybody who gambles get hooked?
Most kids will engage in some form of gambling and only a few get hooked. However, statistically, teen gamblers are more vulnerable and are more likely to develop a problem than adult gamblers.
Q. Why are so many teens gambling?
The marketing and popularity of lottery scratch cards, Texas Hold’em and other games has created a generation of young players. On-Line casinos, poker and downloadable ‘aps’ have made gambling much more accessible to adults and teens alike.
Q. What are some of the warning signs of gambling?
- Shift from social gambling to compulsive gambling alone on the internet or with friends.
- Loss of concentration, inability to cope with everyday activities—school work, sports, social activities with friends.
- Plummeting self-esteem
- Skipping school or grades start to worsen because of time spent gambling
- Placing larger and more frequent bets to maintain interest and excitement produced by gambling.
- Experiencing mood swings and feeling stressed when not gambling regularly or trying to reduce or stop gambling
- Promising to stop or reduce their gambling but has trouble following through with plan.
- Lies or is secretive about gambling activities.
- Missing personal belongings or cannot cover regular expenses as he/she has used these to finance gambling activities.
- Borrowing or taking money from family members or friends to gamble.
Q. What are some of the consequences of youth gambling?
School work suffers, family ties and friendships deteriorate, and some young people may find themselves in rehab just like abusers of drugs or alcohol. Debt is accumulated. Youth with gambling problems are at greater risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, suicide and delinquent behaviour.
Q. Why do more boys appear to gamble than girls?
It is felt that boys are naturally more impulsive than girls, and are more attracted to the competitive nature and risk-taking aspects of gambling games. Sports betting, video lottery terminals and card games, such as poker, are particularly popular with boys.
Q. How do they get the money?
While most youth do not have access to a traditional credit card, pre-paid cards are readily accessible and easily provide the means for gambling online. Problems arise when individuals use all their money and start borrowing or taking money from their parents to gamble.
Q. What types of gambling activities do kids play?
The most popular gambling games among youth are cards, sports betting, dice and board games, lottery tickets and on-line gambling.
Q. What are the chances of winning/losing?
Just remember, the house always wins. It’s been noted: “The Safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket.”
Q. What is co-morbidity?
Problem gambling rarely develops in isolation. For instance, drug and/or alcohol use and/or abuse are often associated with problem gambling. This combination of addictions is called co-morbidity.
Q. How dangerous is Internet gambling?
Internet gambling is increasing, is heavily marketed, and appeals to a tech-savvy generation. The need to escape from problems into a world of fantasy or to relieve boredom and feelings of depression make the Internet particularly addictive. Electronic gambling is considered the most addictive type of gambling. In fact, these games are so addictive they are often referred to as the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling.
Q. What is the danger of ‘gateway’ or ‘practice sites?
Gateway or practice sites are free- play gambling sites that entice players by allowing them to play with favorable odds. Once the player signs up to play “for real” the odds change and are no longer in their favour.
Q. What is the parent’s role in gambling prevention?
Parents need to talk to their kids about the dangers of gambling in the same way they talk about drugs and alcohol. They need to be positive role models, set limits, and encourage involvement in healthy teen activities such as sports and community involvement.
Q. Where do I get help?
A list of list of help lines across the country is listed under the heading of Help Lines. Some international links and resources are also indicated.
