Youth Gambling

Possible warning signs of
a gambling problem:


Chasing losses, or
gambling to win back
money previously lost



Larger and more
frequent bets



Preoccupation with
thoughts of gambling



Mood swings and
feelings of stress
during attempts to cut
back



Gambling to escape or
forget problems



Lying about gambling
activities



Borrowing or stealing
money to gamble



Others making
comments about your
gambling



Failing grades, school
absenteeism



Appearing ‘spaced
out’ while gambling



Gambling involves any situation in which a person risks something of value
on an uncertain outcome in hopes of increasing value or profit. It includes
activities such as playing cards, dice games, or video games for money,
buying raffle tickets, or betting on the outcomes of sporting events.
Is youth gambling a problem?
Gambling is illegal for British Columbian youth under the age of 19 years .
Although problem gambling has been primarily thought of as an adult
behaviour, gambling activities appear to be particularly attractive for youth
today. A McGillUniversity survey in Montreal showed that 30% of grade 7
students gambled at least once a week. In this sample, while 55% of youth
were casual or recreation gamblers, 13% had gambling related problems,
and 4 to 6% had a serious problem. Research also indicates that many adults
with gambling problems were first exposed to gambling early in their lives –
usually around the age of 10 years. Youth are most often introduced to
gambling by their families.
What do youth gamble on?
The 2004 Canadian Campus Survey showed that, for undergraduate
students, lottery and raffle tickets are the most popular (51%), followed by
slot machines/video lottery (22.7%), casino gambling (19%), card, dice, or
other games (17.7%), and sports event betting (10.8%). The least reported
activities include betting on horse or dog races (3.7%), internet gambling
(1.5%), and betting with a bookie (0.8%).
Why do youth gamble?
Youth with serious gambling problems report that gambling helps them
forget about problems or offers a sense that nothing else matters. The
three main reported reasons for gambling by youth are excitement,
enjoyment, and winning money. Other reasons why youth may gamble
include peer pressure and to relieve feelings of boredom or depression.
What are the possible negative outcomes of youth gambling?

Pinning hopes on the
‘big win’

Gambling can negatively affect relationships with friends and family. It can
interfere with academic performance, employment and finances, and
physical, social, and mental health.

When does gambling become a problem?
Among youth, gambling is
now more common than
using drugs or smoking!
30% of grade 7 students
gamble at least once a
week!
Youth are 2 to 4 times more
likely than adults to
become problem gamblers!

Websites with more
information on youth
gambling
www.luckyday.ca
www.youthbet.net

Problem gambling occurs when someone experiences a loss of control over their
gambling habits. They may begin by spending more money than intended, playing
for longer than planned, wanting to gamble when other things should be occurring,
being unable to stop thinking about it, or gambling to escape problems, to feel
important, or to feel alive. Problem gamblers tent to neglect their personal needs,
their nutrition, and their sleep. Gambling problems may lead to money problems,
difficulty in school, trouble keeping a job, problems with parents, troubled
friendships and relationships, lying, stealing, problems with the law, feeling s of
depression or anxiousness, and feeling irritable when trying to stop.
What can parents do to educate their children and to support them if they have a
gambling problem?
Parents have an important role in prevention. Talking to your child about what
gambling is and what the potential risks are is a first step. Online gambling is popular
among many youth; therefore monitoring a child’s online activities can offer a
preventative strategy. Remind your child that gambling is not legal if under the age of
19 years.
Resources

Centre for Public Safety and
Criminal Justice Research
33844 King Road
Abbotsford, BC
V2S 7M8
604 854-4553

http://cjr.ufv.ca

 B.C. Problem Gambling Help Line
o 1-888-795-6111
 Gamblers Anonymous
o www.gamblersanonymous.org
 Youth and Gambling. Mental Health and Addiction Services
o http://www.camh.net/
 Canadian Campus Survey, 2004
o http://www.ccsa.ca/Eng/Statistics/Canada/GS/Pages/default.aspx
 Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
o http://keltymentalhealth.ca/
 Canadian Mental Health Association
o http://www.cmha.ca/
 Mind Check
o http://mindcheck.ca/