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The new gambling environment
 oday's
youth are the first generation to grow up in an environment of legalized
gambling in Canada. Government-owned gambling outlets such as casinos,
slot machines, and video lottery terminals expanded dramatically during
the 1990's. The expansion of legalized gambling has continued into
the 21st century. Governments see gambling as an excellent source
of new revenues, without taxation. As the number of gambling venues
increases, so do the number of gambling-associated problems. We are
just starting to come to terms with how this new gambling environment
is impacting on the lives of youth.
Youth problem gambling a growing concern
Approximately 70% of Canadian youth engage in some
form of gambling. Gambling is not always a negative activity for youth
if it is done for recreational purposes and if it is done within limits.
It is when it turns into problem and pathological forms of gambling
that there is concern. What is of concern in recent years is the high
and steady rate of problem gambling among youth. These rates are higher
than the rates of adults. Recent research shows that 4.8% of adolescent
gamblers are categorized as pathological, and 14.6% are categorized
as problem gamblers.
According to McGill University's International
Centre for Youth Gambling and High-Risk Behaviours:
- More males gamble than females;
- The rate of problem gamblers among youth is two to four times
that of adults;
- Gambling problems among youth are associated with poor coping
skills;
- Youth with serious gambling problems are at a greater risk for
thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts; and
- The shift from social to problem gambling is more rapid for
youth.
Gambling takes on many guises in terms of both
legal forms (publicly regulated) and illegal forms. Youth do not typically
have access to most legal forms of gambling because of age restrictions
or because they do not have the credit cards required to participate
in online forms of gambling. Nonetheless there is increasing evidence
that not only are underage minors participating in these activities,
but also that they are doing so with other adult family members.
Why youth gamble
Youth do not gamble only with money. Youth also
gamble with other items that they deem of value, which could include
running shoes, CDs, Discmans, etc. As well, youth do not gamble for
financial rewards alone, they also do it for a whole range of reasons,
including the 'rush' of it and the self-esteem of proving they can
be 'winners'.
Youth gamble for enjoyment, to win money, excitement, to make friends,
and for relaxation. According to recent research, youth problem gamblers
are more likely to gamble to escape problems, unhappiness or loneliness
than social or recreational youth gamblers. Certain risk factors such
as substance abuse, juvenile delinquency and problems at school also
have been associated with problem gambling among youth.
Signs and symptoms of problem
gambling
Gambling problems among youth can have an impact on families and
communities. Youth gambling problems can be associated with substance
abuse, depression, suicide and crime. They can cause relationship
difficulties and problems at school. Some signs of gambling problems
include:
- Spending large amounts of time gambling,
- Placing larger and more frequent bets,
- "Chasing" losses,
- Emotional highs and lows,
- Gambling over other activities,
- Growing debts, and
- Preoccupation with gambling.
Lack of awareness among health professionals, teachers,
and the general public, as well as a lack of screening tools, has
led to an under-appreciation of the problem of youth gambling.
Keeping it safe
Youth gambling is an emerging public health issue.
We are only at the beginning stages of recognizing its importance,
impact and relationship to other mental health issues and addictive
behaviours.
At the University of Toronto, the TeenNet
project, based in the Department of Public Health Sciences, has
focused its research on using technology for health promotion with
youth. The newest TeenNet website, www.YouthBet.net,
was launched in May 2002. This website addresses youth gambling problems
from a prevention, harm reduction and health promotion perspective.
The goal is to promote informed, balanced attitudes and behaviours
about youth gambling; prevent youth gambling related problems, and
to protect vulnerable and at-risk youth.
The health promotion approach addresses both the positive and the
negative dimensions associated with youth gambling. Youth can learn
competencies in the areas of numeracy, literacy, and decision-making,
as well as coping strategies for disappointment, loss and winning.
There is an opportunity to promote self-efficacy and informed choice
around leisure and lifestyle decisions and health behaviours.
The Youth Bet
website features a neighbourhood scene representing the areas where
gambling occurs in the lives of youth. Environments featured on the
site include a schoolyard, a back alley, a corner store, a casino,
a library, and a community centre. The site includes games on money
management, time management, and decision making skills; gambling
assessment tools; a risk perception tool; and information on odds,
randomness and probability. There is a range of information on the
site including signs of gambling problems, definitions of gambling,
stories about winning and losing, information on the gambling industry,
information on Internet gambling, and links to other gambling organizations.
Help resources are located in each area, including links to telephone
help lines and links to the gambling bulletin board where they can
talk to other youth about gambling and related issues.
For young people gambling is a choice and does contain some risks.
For those youth who choose to gamble, they should gamble safely, moderately
and in low-risk situations. The Responsible
Gambling Council of Ontario recommends the following tips to keep
gambling safe:
- Gamble for entertainment, not as a way to make money
- Set a spending limit and stick to it, don 't use cash machines
for additional money
- Never borrow money to gamble
- Never gamble money that is needed for everyday expenses
- Do not "chase" losses - accept them as the cost of
entertainment
- Set a limit on the amount of time spent gambling
- Take frequent breaks while gambling
- Be aware - risk increases at times of loss or depression
Signs and symptoms of problem
gambling
Things for family members and friends to look for:
(Taken with permission from: Promoting Community
Awareness of Problem Gambling Resource Package, Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health, www.camh.net)
Here are some clues that may indicate a gambling problem:
Financial cues
- Money missing from a bank account or wallet
- Valuables or money mysteriously disappear
- Person holds a second job but has no change in finances
- Changes in spending priorities and habits
- Cashes in financial resources (savings, RRSP's or insurance
plans) or allows them to lapse
Emotional cues
- Person withdraws from friends or family
- Personality changes
- A sense that something is amiss; feeling on edge
Time cues
- Neglecting responsibilities or making excuses
- Arriving late for work or other commitments; large blocks
of time unaccounted for
- Long periods of time engaged in reading race scores or
sports statistics
Behavioural cues
- Decreased attendance at family functions or other social
events
- Changes in sleep, eating and sexual relationship patters
- Preoccupied
- Bored easily
- Deception
- On edge, reactive, defensive
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Resources & Links:
TeenNet
YouthBet.net
McGill
International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High Risk Behaviors
Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission:
General
Gambling Resources
Youth
Specific Resources
Responsible
Gambling Council of Ontario
The Wager
Beyond our borders link, a weekly research bulletin published by
the Division on Addictions at Harvard Medical School in collaboration
with the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling
Addiction Foundation of Manitoba
Fast facts on gambling
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This
article was prepared by the 
