Youth Gambling Addiction

Youth Gambling Addiction
This information is provided through funding and assistance from Delaware Council on Gambling Problems and Delaware Department of Education

"The incidence of problem and pathological gambling is of sufficient severity to warrant immediate and enhanced attention on the part of public officials and others.The Commission strongly urges those in positions of responsibility to move aggressively to reduce the occurrence of this malady in the general population and to alleviate the suffering of those afflicted."

What is gambling?

Gambling is a game of chance. It's betting money or some other valuable on the outcome of a game, contest, or other event.ⁱ It has been called 'recreation with risk'. Gambling includes activities such as buying lottery tickets at the gas station, playing Bingo at the community center, betting on ballgames or horses or just about anything else you can think of.

It is estimated that more than 125 million adult Americans gamble and that most of these do so without developing gambling related problems. However, an estimated 7.9 million adults are either problem or pathological gamblers.ⁱⁱ Of special concern is the increasing number of youth who are involved in gambling and are demonstrating problems controlling this behavior.

According to several studies summarized in Youth Gambling International ⁱⁱⁱ gambling is the most popular high-risk activity among teenagers, involving 80% of teens. Between 4% and 6% of teens may be considered probable pathological gamblers and an addition 10% - 15% considered at-risk of developing a gambling problem. In 1999, the National Gambling Impact Commission Study report indicated that there were 7.9 million American adolescent problem and pathological gamblers. (5.7 million problem gamblers and 2.2 million pathological gamblers.)^iv

Quote from a student gambler:
"If my life was a tree, one branch would be that I'm a thief, another branch is that I'm a liar, another being that I'm no longer in school, and another being that I no longer have my parents' trust and respect, and I'm not permitted to live in their home. But if you cut off each of the branches you still haven't gotten to the root of the problem which is my gambling."
Source: Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, Inc. Newsletter, Vol XVI, No 5. Mar/Apr 2001.

In addition to the increasing numbers of youth, and the young age of the youth gambler, there is also concern because gambling is now seen as a gateway behavior to other youth behavior problems such as alcohol and other drug use, delinquency, and home and school problems. Problem gambling is now seen as an addictive behavior, much like that of an addiction to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, food, sex; and has received medical classification as a diagnostic entity.

ⁱ Gambling Problems Resource Center.
ⁱⁱProblem and Pathological Gambling. National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report. 1999.
ⁱⁱⁱ Youth Gambling International: Prevention. Copyright 2003. http://youthgambling.mcgill.ca/en/Prevention/Prevention.htm
^ivProblem and Pathological Gambling. National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report. 1999.