Youth Gambling
“The rite of passage has gone from being starting drinking to starting gambling” (M. Steinberg)
“This is the first generation of youth to be exposed to relatively easy access to a variety of gambling venues, widespread gambling advertising, and to pervasive social approval for an inherently risky activity. Only 20 years ago, gambling in the U.S. was primarily limited Las Vegas and Atlantic City.”
(Winters, 2006)
What is gambling?
Any act that involves the risking of money or valuables on the outcome of a game, contest, or any other risk-taking event.
Motives for adolescent gambling
Relaxation - Enjoyment, excitement, entertainment – Adventure – Attention – Opportunity - Escape Negative feelings
Teens commonly:
§ Live in the moment and enjoy games that keep them attentive and engaged. The teen lives in the moment with cell phone/ internet/ blackberry immediacy. Remote gambling is especially unique in this manner.
§ Are technologically literate and can navigate the internet at the speed of light compared to older generations
§ Are high risk takers developmentally. This is a normal part of the teenage experience to challenge the norm and take risks, both physically and emotionally
§ Have poor control over impulsive behaviors
§ Are able to dominate web sites without physical presence, beauty, strength, or acceptance. Skill is all important.
Types of gambling
Games of Skill
§ Cards
§ Sports betting
§ Pool
§ Ping pong
§ Video games
§ Sports
§ Internet and online
§ Dog or animal fighting
§ Remote gambling
o Telephone/cell phone
o Internet – poker sites, sports betting sites, casino games, & lotteries
o Internet gaming sites
o Interactive TV
o Mobile, blackberry, palm/pda
§ Rapid development of platforms available. Text messaging and instant betting
Games of Chance
§ Rolling dice
§ Carnival games
§ Lotteries
§ Bingo
§ Flipping coins
§ Scratch offs
§ Pull tables
Major modes of teen betting
§ Internet
§ Online poker
§ Peer – to – peer (online bet exchanges)
§ Sports betting
§ Other types such as: poker, tossing coins, dice, etc
Signs of problem gambling in teens:
Unexplained absences from school
Dropping grades
Increased family conflict
The family suspects alcohol or other drug abuse
Asking/taking/stealing money from family friends and strangers
Large amounts of money in teen’s possession
Gambling language and gambling an important conversational topic
Showing off money, clothing, and other possessions
Spending an unusual amount of time on the computer (out of parents sight), closing down programs when adults walk into the room, reading newspapers (sports page and stats), magazines, an/or periodicals having to do with sports or online poker sites.
Selling personal belongings (theirs and families)
Bragging about winnings
Lying, cheating, or stealing in school
Exhaustion from lack of sleep
Digititis (fingers look like they are typing on a key board all the time)
Playing on a team but not performing to normal abilities (shaving points)
Overtly interested in how other teams at school are performing
Overly invested in performance of certain athletes (fantasy football/basketball/etc)
Teen rates for problem gambling at a rate higher than for adults and vary 4%–8% of adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age gamble at a pathological level, and another 10%–15% are at risk of developing a serious problem2
If you suspect a teen has a gambling problem, call
1-800-437-1611
for confidential help. Don’t wait for the problem to go away, it will only get worse!
1 Estimates based on meta-analysis of surveys conducted 1988-1997 (National Research Council, 1999).
2 Derevensky & Gupta, 2004; Derevensky et al., 2003; Hardoon & Derevensky, 2002; Jacobs, 2000; National Research Council, 1999
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