Adolescent Problem Gambling
Parent Education on Youth Gambling
By educating your child about the importance of budgeting, and the pitfalls of incurring debt, they will be less likely to look to income sources such as gambling. You can help by telling your young adult that gambling is a risk.
Favorite Types of Gambling
- Card games (especially Texas Hold’em poker)
- Sports betting
- Lottery tickets
- Internet gambling
- Video games
Negative Impact and Problematic Behaviors
- Adolescent problem gambling has been shown to result in increased delinquency and crime.
- Adolescent problem gamblers whose parents gambled excessively had twice the number of problems with the law.
- Adolescent problem gamblers have twice the attempted suicide rate than their non-problem gambling classmates.
- Adolescent problem gamblers are more likely to develop problem in other areas such as alcohol, drug or tobacco related problems.
- Adolescent problem gamblers who also have an alcohol or drug dependence report that the gambling addiction is more difficult to stop.
- The early onset of adolescent gambling in the U.S. now exceeds the expected onset for their use of cigarettes, hard liquor and marijuana.
Risk and Protective Factors
Risk Factors
- Alcoholism or gambling in family
- Early onset of gambling
- Early “Big” win
- Low self-esteem
- Hyperactivity
- Overemphasis on money and competition
- Depression
- Academic and behavioral problems at school
Protective Factors
- Parental involvement
- Parental monitoring
- High self-esteem
- Self-control
- Resiliency
- Positive attitude toward school
- Involvement in school, church and community groups
- Positive role model outside of family
- Clear and consistent rules in family
- Drug, alcohol and tobacco free