FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - KIDS/TEENS:
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I
bet on pool and video games with my friends; that's not
really gambling, is it?
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Why do boys develop more problems than girls when they
gamble?
- What is the definition
of problem gambling?
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What is
pathological/compulsive gambling?
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Can I tell if I
have a gambling problem, are there signs and symptoms?
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Is a gambling addiction as serious as a drug addiction?
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Why do most young
people gamble - is it for the money?
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Why is gambling illegal for children and teenagers?
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What can I do if my friends ask me to gamble?
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What do I do if I
think I, or one of my friends, has a gambling problem?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - PARENTS:
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As a parent, are there warning signs of possible underage
gambling problems that I can recognize?
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How can I help my
children avoid online gambling?
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I thought Internet
Gambling was illegal for minors. If that's true, why do
casinos and Internet gambling web sites still market to
children?
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What can I do to
help my kids avoid online gambling?
Yes it is.
Gambling is defined as "the act of risking money or
something else of value on an activity with an uncertain
outcome." Wagering in a casino and placing a bet with a
'bookie' is the same as playing cards or video games for
money, buying raffle tickets, betting on a pool game
with your friends, betting your lunch money on a
sporting event - it's all gambling, there's no
difference.
According to McGill Youth Gambling
Research and Treatment Clinic, boys develop more gambling
problems than girls because they are more competitive and
enjoy feeling important when they win. However, there are
better ways for boys to feel important and be competitive.
For instance, instead of gambling, they can compete in
sports events.
Also, boys are more susceptible to develop gambling problems
than girls because they participate in gambling activities
that are more problematic, such as sports betting. They
believe that because they know all the teams and the
players, they have a good chance of winning their bet. This
is not true. You can never predict the outcome of a game.
Anything could happen (a key player gets injured, the best
defense player gets a long penalty, etc) and the outcome of
the events can change completely. Sport betting is very
dangerous; many teenagers have developed a gambling problem
due to their participation in betting on sports events.
A problem gambler is someone
whose gambling behavior has a bad effect on their life
or the lives of people close to them - parents,
brothers, sisters, and your friends. If your gambling is
causing you to fall behind in your schoolwork, have
arguments with family or friends, or worry about money
you have lost, it is considered to be "problem gambling"
and you're a "problem gambler".
A more severe stage of problem
gambling is "Pathological" or "Compulsive" Gambling.
This is a progressive addiction characterized by
increasing interest in gambling, a need to bet more
money more often, restlessness or irritability when
attempting to stop, "chasing" your losses (trying to win
lost money back), and a loss of control exhibited by
continuing to gamble despite increasing, serious,
negative consequences.
Yes, there are common
signs and symptoms that most adolescent problem gamblers
exhibit. According to the National American Training
Institute, if you can answer TRUE to even a few of the
following statements, it may be time to
look for help
for a possible gambling problem:
- Do you think gambling is the most exciting activity
you do?
- Do you often spend your free time involved in
gambling activities?
- Do you try to prevent your family and friends from
knowing how much you gamble?
- Do your friends gamble? Are you considered part of
the "gambling crowd?"
- Do you often daydream about gambling?
- Do you often gamble during lunch breaks, recess,
after school hours, or on weekends?
- Do you miss school or other important events due to
gambling activities?
- Do you often dream of solving your problems by
making a big win?
- Do you ever lie about whether you gamble or how much
you lose?
- Is gambling the main source of what you do to feel
good about yourself?
- Do you gamble alone?
- Do you gamble with money that is supposed to be used
for other reasons like lunch, bus fare, or clothes?
- Have you ever borrowed money to gamble?
- Have you ever stolen money or property in order to
gamble or pay gambling debts?
- Do you get upset or irritable if you are unable to
gamble?
- Do you most want to gamble when you are upset?
- Do you often feel sad or guilty because you lost
money gambling?
- Is it hard for you to stop gambling after you lose
money?
- Do you often gamble longer than you wanted to and
lose more money than you intended?
- When gambling, do you tend to lose track of time or
forget about everything else?
- Do you find that thinking about gambling makes it
hard for you to do school work?
If you feel you may have a gambling problem, go to the
"Need Help" page of this web site for information on
how you can get advice or help.
Yes. According to McGill
Youth Gambling Research and Treatment Clinic, when you have
a gambling addiction, all you can think about is gambling.
You have an uncontrollable urge to gamble which makes you do
things you wouldn't normally do; just like when you have a
drug addiction. People who are addicted believe that what
they do helps them forget their problems. They see gambling
and drugs as a solution to their problems when in fact the
addiction is in itself a big problem. They
need to get help.
Actually it's not for the
money. in fact, most adolescents with gambling problems
report that the main reasons they gamble is for the
action, the excitement and enjoyment, the "high",
derived from these activities. Money is often just
considered simply a vehicle, or means, enabling them to
continue playing/wagering.
Following is a list of common reasons behind teen
gambling:
- The action of the game
- History of gambling in the family
- Problems at home
- Low self-esteem
- Peer pressure
- To gain attention from peers
- To win money
McGill Youth Gambling Research and Treatment Clinic,
gambling is illegal for children and teenagers not because
we want to prevent them from enjoying a fun activity but
because it is necessary to protect them from falling into
the traps of a risky activity. Gambling is risky and
children and teenager need to learn all the facts and
acquire the maturity to set their limits properly, to become
informed consumers and make the best possible choice when
they reach adulthood. Also, research shows that the earlier
you start gambling, the more at-risk you are of developing a
gambling problem. Therefore, it's important to wait until
you are an adult while keeping in mind that gambling is
risky even for adults. It is also important for adults to
adopt healthy play behaviors.
McGill Youth Gambling Research and Treatment Clinic says,
first, you have to make the decision not to gamble for
yourself and know your reasons why you don't want to gamble.
Once you know that, assert yourself and express your
reasons. You can also talk about what you've learned about
gambling and gambling problems. Express that you prefer
saving your money for something you are sure to get. Express
the fact that you don't need to gamble to make things
interesting and enjoy yourself.
If you or someone you know is
concerned about their gambling behavior, there is help
available. You can find help resources in the
"Need Help" section
of this web site or you can talk to your parents,
teachers, school guidance counselor, an addictions
counselor, or close friends. Don't worry, if you want
help, there are effective treatments for problem
gambling available to anyone, at any age.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- PARENTS:
Yes, the following
warning signs (from the
CT Partnership for Responsible Gambling) are
things to look for if you think your child may be an
underage gambler.
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Carries or possess gambling materials -
dice, playing cards, casino chips, lottery tickets,
sports betting sheets, etc
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Experiences mood swings that seem to be
related to gambling wins and losses
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Pays more attention than normal to
sports scores; may become agitated over certain game
results
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Neglects relationships, responsibilities
and favorite activities
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Displays large amounts of cash and other
material possessions
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Says gambling is an easy way to make
money
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Takes desperate measures to get money;
may resort to stealing
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Uses money meant for necessary items
(lunch, books, bus fare, etc.) for gambling
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Lies to family and friends
Great Question. Kids, of all
ages, are online more and more these days; it's a fact of
life. While online, they are constantly bombarded with
banner ads and pop-ups for casinos and online gambling
sites. You'd be surprised how often these ads appear on
sites frequented by and popular with teens and even younger
children. Many of these online gambling sites offer 'free'
gambling 'just for fun' where children can experience
gambling without the need for money.
It is illegal. The answer is
they are trying to create future customers, a process often
called "grooming". These gaming establishments are grooming young
children to become their adult gamblers of the future. This is the same
process that tobacco companies have used for years to create
interest in children for tobacco products (done via indirect
advertising, of course) to create adult
smokers/chewers/dippers.
The following information is an
excerpt taken from a Dec. 14, 2005 article on the
Microsoft.com web site entitled, "Internet gambling and your
kids".
Internet gambling is a huge money-maker
and furthermore, it is predicted that Internet gambling will
increase tenfold over the next few years. So, how do you
keep your children from becoming one of the next
generation's problem gamblers?
- Discuss gambling and its potential risks with
your kids
Examine your own attitudes and habits around gambling.
Remember, you are the most important role model for your
kids.
- Know where your kids are going online and what
they are doing.
Establish clear rules about what online games your kids
can play and keep Internet-connected computers in an
open area, not in your children's bedrooms.
- Take advice from the experts:
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission advises parents to
convey to their kids the following risks associated with
online gambling:
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Remind your kids that it is illegal for them
to gamble online
Many countries, including the U.S., prohibit
gambling by minors. That's why gambling sites don't
pay out to kids and go to great lengths to verify
the age of any winner.
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Help your kids understand how gambling works
Online gambling operations are in business to make a
profit. They take in more money than they pay out.
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Make sure your kids always ask permission to
use your credit card number online
Online gambling usually requires the use of a credit
card. If kids accrue debts online, they could ruin
their credit rating - or their parents' credit
rating.
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Explain that online gambling can be
addictive.
Internet gambling is a solitary activity. People can
gamble uninterrupted and undetected for hours at a
time. Gambling in isolation and using credit cards
may lead to addictive gambling patterns.
If you feel your child may have a gambling
problem, go to the
Need Help page of this web site for information on how
you can get advice or help.
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