Teen Gambling:

by Jerry "Jet" Whittaker

February 16, 2006

What is gambling?

Gambling is any behavior that involves the risking of money or valuables on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event that is partially or totally dependent on chance and for most people, gambling is something they do occasionally as a form of recreation. Most of the teenagers play Bingo, buy a lottery ticket, bet a few dollars on a sporting event, or drop a loonie into a machine and when the draw or the game is over, they move on to other non-gambling activities. For some people though, gambling becomes a problem if they loose and it affects their families and themselves.

Now-a-days gambling among youth is also gaining increased attention and according to the 1996 Newfoundland and Labrador Student Drug Use Survey, there are students in grades 7, 9, 10, and 12 who are already looking for help for their gambling behavior and the main gambling activities the youth are involved in includes bingo, playing cards for money, sports betting, and playing lotteries.

However problem gamblers are defined as individuals who suffer a loss of control over their gambling behavior and the teen problem gambling behavior results in negative consequences such as school and family problems, and peer relationship, legal and money troubles.

What do teens gamble and what are their warning signs?

The teens gamble due to some family problems or they are in need of money. Some of the teens play just for winning money and to gain attention from peers or even its in the history of gambling in their family. Due to low self-esteem and peer pressure they are forced to play gambling.

The warning signs of teen gambling are asking for money, borrowing from friends and family or even having gambling stuff at home like lottery tickets. They are extreme moodiness and for gambling there are unexplained debts or windfall cash that increases their day dreaming and anxiety. There are sometimes telephone calls from strangers and higher phone bills or even withdrawal from relationships, school groups or activities.

How can you prevent teenagers from gambling?

There are many ways you can prevent the teens from gambling like as a community we can educate ourselves about gambling activity or as a school we can review policies on gambling activity on school property and as a family we can talk about safe gambling to them. Also as a student we can learn the difference between safe and problem gambling hence preventing ourselves.

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