GAMBLING IN CHILDHOOD – A GUIDE FOR PARENTS
Gambling often is thought of as an adult behavior, but in recent years the appeal of gambling has increased for youth. Youth gambling is similar to adult gambling in that it is an activity that implies an element of risk, where money or something of sentimental or monetary value could be won or lost by the participant. Specifically, youth gambling activities can include sports betting, poker, dice, bingo, cards/ dice/slot machines (not at a casino), cockfights, games of skill (basketball, bowling, golf, and pool), horse or greyhound racing, pitching quarters, internet gambling, raffles, scratch-and-win tickets, staterun lottery games, and pull tabs. Video game playing is not typically considered gambling since one does not bet on the result of the game.
GAMBLING IN CHILDHOOD - Is gambling legal
Often there are questions about youth gambling. Is it illegal? Is it potentially addictive? If so, how does it differ from other forms of addiction? First, gambling age requirements differ from state to state and country to country; also, minimum age requirements vary for types of gaming (casino gambling vs. playing the lottery). A general rule of thumb is that gambling is legal for a young adult eighteen years of age or older. However, because of the many variations in gambling laws, individuals should check local statutes.Why youth engage in gambling. Individuals not only gamble for fun but also because of the potential to win money; to experience the excitement they feel from gambling; to "escape" from problems at home, school or other areas of their life; and to alleviate feelings of depression, loneliness or other unpleasant moods. A youth’s propensity to gamble may be increased due to easy availability and social acceptance, a preference for immediate gratification and underdeveloped long-range planning ability, a hope to "get rich quick," a means of increasing social standing, and a feeling of disconnect at home, school or other settings.
GAMBLING IN CHILDHOOD : : Gambling Problem
Problem gambling is similar to other addictions such as drug and alcohol abuse in several ways, but is different in other significant ways. Problem gamblers, like drug or alcohol abusers, have an inability to stop or control their behavior. Problem gamblers and persons addicted to substances are preoccupied with their addiction and need to increasingly engage in the behavior to achieve a satisfactory "high." A significant difference between problem gambling and substance abuse is that problem gambling is often a "hidden" addiction, not readily visible or detectable. Another significant difference is the severe financial impact that out-of-control gambling has on a problem gambler’s life. Once an individual decides to stop drinking, he or she is on the road to recovery. However, once an individual stops gambling, there still remains the pressure to account for what are usually very large sums of lost money. This fact increases the temptation to "chase losses" in an attempt to win back money to alleviate debt.
GAMBLING IN CHILDHOOD : : addictions
All addictions can result in negative social and emotional consequences. While problem gamblers do not experience damaging physical effects (e.g. overdose, liver damage) as a direct result of the gambling behavior, they do experience severe social consequences related to deception and loss of trust of friends and loved ones. These social consequences make it important to recognize when a youth may be at-risk for developing a problem or may have already developed a problem. For some, what begins as a way to spend time with friends ends with isolation and despair.