This is why you should talk to your kids about gambling addiction
Steve Fox, Digital First Media
Posted
For the next several weeks, as many of us are worrying about our NCAA basketball pools, it will be difficult to ignore that we live in a society filled with gamblers.
Electronics have helped to break down any walls to access that existed in the past. Everything from NCAA pools to poker tournaments are available online, away from the prying eyes of parents.
The month known for March Madness is also now known as National Problem Gambling Awareness Month and is as good as a time as any to talk to your child about the dangers of gambling.
The enticements are many. Warren Buffett’s $1 billion “Perfect Bracket Challenge” is an excellent example of the grey line that exists with respect to gambling in this country. Can bracketology be considered a “gateway to gambling”? Maybe.
For teenagers, online gambling is attractive, easily accessible and can be used as a tool to avoid other problems going on in life. And, while the legality of online poker continues to be debated in the courts, the online poker craze of the past decade has had an impact on teens and gambling.
According to a 2010 study by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, more than half a million high school-aged students visit a gambling site every month.
The Gambling Disorders Clinic at Columbia University reports that: “Teen problem gambling rates are two to four times the rate of adults….At this time of life, teenagers are searching for a sense of identity. They are first drawn to gambling for the excitement and to enhance their self-image. Easy access to computers and online gambling take away barriers to gambling in public.”
While most teens don’t have credit cards, I recently helped my son get a debit card for his bank account. I initially hesitated at giving him this freedom, but his account is tied to mine and purchases on gambling sites would definitely raise a red flag.
Still, there are thousands of online gambling sites, and smartphones and Facebook simplify access even more. Gambling applications have a strong presence on Facebook – including everything from virtual lottery tickets to slots and poker.
But there are applications to help parents and children. Both the iPhone and Android phones have “gambling help” applications aimed at educating teens (and adults) about the signs of problem gambling. Alternately, you can keep gambling apps off of your teen’s phone by simply removing app store access from their phones.
Signs of teen gambling addiction are fairly predictable but definitely fall into areas that loving, well-intentioned parents could rationalize away. A fact sheet produced by the National Council on Problem Gambling provides the following list:
- Begins to sell personal belongings
- Borrows money from friends and family and does not repay it
- Steals and lies
- Has large amounts of cash that cannot be explained
- Has a great deal of debt that cannot be explained
- Strangers call on the phone with increasing frequency
- Withdraws from his or her regular social groups and activities
- Makes "900" number calls to gambling numbers
- Appears distracted and anxious; can be moody or depressed
- Unexplained absences from school or work
- Breaks curfew regularly
- Spends hours on online gaming sites
- Obsession with sports scores can indicate a sports gambling habit
Efforts at prevention are key. Obviously, teaching your child the value of money at an early age is important on many levels, and the hope here is that your child understands that money is not something to be gambled away.
Some other suggestions from the Columbia’s clinic:
- Know who your kids spend their time with and what they do.
- Make your opinions about gambling clear.
- Challenge child's beliefs that gambling can lead to a 'big win.'
- If your child asks for money, know what it will be spent on.
- Block online gambling sites on your child's computer.
- If you believe your child is 'at risk,' take him for an evaluation.
If you see signs of gambling addiction, take action. Our society tends to look the other way when it comes to gambling, something we really shouldn’t do when dealing with our children.
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