Approximately 450,000 children from eleven to fifteen bet real money at least once per week. The UK Gambling Commission published this information in late 2016. According to its report, about nine thousand teenagers among the respondents have apparent signs of gambling addiction.
According to international organizations that deal with problem gambling, children's addiction to gambling has become a dangerous trend worldwide.
We firmly believe that such a phenomenon is unacceptable and try to contribute to the struggle against gambling among teenagers. This article from Casinoz initiates a series of publications about gambling addiction among children. We will discuss all aspects of this problem and provide valuable tips on how to counteract it.
Gambling is not intended for children. Let's fight against this serious problem together.
Is Underage Gaming a Real Problem?
To be sure, our readers include customers of online casinos and fans of poker or sports who will say, "There is no problem in gambling!" Many will recall how they used to play cards, dice, coins, and other games in their childhood, making small bets. Now, it seems to them that such entertainment is harmless and poses no threat.
Are you sure that none of your partners with whom you used to gamble have gambling-related problems?
It seems complicated even for adults to assess gambling-associated risks properly. And the child's mind cannot realize how dangerous such entertainment is.
Teens tend to be too fascinated by exciting activities. Having become a victim of gambling addiction, they leave school, conflict with adults, quarrel with friends and even commit crimes to get money to keep gambling.
We hope you agree that getting rid of such problems is necessary.
How Do Children Enter the World of Gambling?
Modern children learn about gambling very early. We want to enumerate several possible sources of information:
- Advertisement of poker tournaments,
- Signs of gambling houses,
- Stories of friends about sports betting,
- Information about casinos available in pirated movies,
- Offers of free spins and bonuses on gambling sites,
- Kiosks with scratch cards;
- TV lotteries;
- Parents who play cards;
- Gambling in schools;
- Gambling-like entertainment for children in shopping malls.
Computer games, which allow you to buy something for real money, are also worth mentioning. The opportunity to "upgrade" a character or reach a higher level faster is as attractive as slots.
Why do children start gambling? Participants of the survey identified three main reasons:
- They want to earn money;
- They want to amuse themselves;
- They try to find new types of entertainment.
It would be best to consider all the above causes to prevent your children from becoming victims of gambling addiction.
Is It Time to Beat the Alarm?
Don't deceive yourself by thinking your child is too young to be interested in gambling. Gambling enters the world of children imperceptibly and often does not cause fear, even among adults. Since preschool, everyone has known that drugs, tobacco, smoking, and alcohol are harmful. However, games of chance with coins or instant lotteries seem pretty harmless.
As a result, we have faced shocking consequences:
- 43% of pupils in middle school gambled last year.
- There are also other facts about the involvement of teenagers in gambling:
- Research has revealed that the first signs of gambling addiction emerge at ten years of age.
- According to statistics collected by the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, teenagers play online games of chance three times more often compared to adults.
- Youth mainly prefer instant lotteries, different types of betting, and poker.
The involvement of parents in gambling significantly increases the probability of such a hobby in children. Try to show your children good examples.
How to Notice a Problem
It can be tough to notice signs of problem gambling in children, especially in the early stages. Teenagers do not face significant financial problems, which can lead to severe difficulties in life. They usually lose pocket money and sometimes borrow small amounts from their friends.
Yet, if you fail to reveal the signs of gambling addiction among teenagers in the early stages, it can lead to a natural disaster. We recommend that you should pay attention to the following changes in the behavior of children:
- Sharp fluctuations in the child's financial capabilities: unexpectedly vast sums of money, inexplicable acquisitions, and attempts to borrow money from friends.
- Poor school performance.
- Quarrels with friends and classmates.
- Loss of interest in sports and hobbies.
- They pay too much attention to the outcome of sporting events. The following changes in behavior are observed: restless sleep, mood fluctuations, apathy, irritability, etc.
- A child does not want to talk about gambling.
The signs mentioned above may indicate other problems not related to gambling in children's lives. Parents should pay attention to such changes and find out why they appear.
How to Cope with Juvenile Problem Gambling
First of all, it is necessary to talk with your child. You should not take decisive actions and punish them severely. Children often believe that gambling is harmless and underestimate its danger.
Explain the gambling-associated risks. Tell them about the possible consequences. The real stories of your friends may help.
Even if your child believes that they have realized the problem, it is necessary to keep your eye on them. Children are reticent and know how to keep secrets.
If you cannot solve the problem, you should contact a psychologist specializing in gambling addiction.
How to Prevent the Emergence of Problem Gambling
It is better to prevent any problem than to deal with its consequences. The following recommendations will help our readers to avoid troubles:
- Be a good example for your child. The child should not see how you gamble at casinos, make bets, participate in poker competitions, or purchase lottery tickets.
- Explain the principles of gambling. Do not allow teenagers to believe that there are some winning systems and tell them about other gambling-related myths. Let your child become familiar with the odds of winning when playing lotteries and the different nuances of gambling.
- Try to notice the possible signs of gambling in your child.
- Monitor and restrict your child's access to the Internet. If necessary, use Internet restriction apps.
Conclusion
Even if you constantly gamble at casinos, are fond of poker, participate in lotteries, or regularly make bets, you should do your best to protect your children from gambling.
Gambling should be treated responsibly, taking into account its numerous risks. The child's mind is not able to cope with them.
Be reasonable!
In our future articles, we will discuss various issues related to the development of problem gambling in adolescents. Follow the updates, share your personal stories and offers, and feel free to ask questions.