Facts For Parents
Kids are exposed to gambling every day. All they have to do is turn on the TV to see poker tournaments, or walk into a mini-mart or grocery store to see people buying lottery tickets. Even churches and schools often use gambling for fund-raising, so the gambling message is everywhere. As responsible parents you can give your kids the full story about gambling, and this brochure can help guide you in that process.
Seventy-five percent of teens reported having gambled (Carlson & Moore, 1998)
One in ten teens is an “at-risk” gambler (he or she may be moving toward problem gambling) (Carlson & Moore, 1998)
One in every 25 Oregon teens (4%) is a problem/pathological gambler (Carlson & Moore, 1998)
Almost 1/3 of teens have played the Oregon Lottery within the last year (minimum legal age to participate is 18 years old) (Carlson & Moore, 1998)
The rates of problem gambling among youth are 2-4 times higher than the rates for adult gambling, and Oregon youth are gambling at a younger age than in the past (Carlson & Moore, 1998; Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a; Shaffer & Hall, 1996)
Youth can hide gambling problems well—there aren’t outward physical signs (e.g., smell on the breath, slurred speech)
Many pathological gamblers report having started gambling early—approximately age 10 (Gupta & Derevensky, 2001; Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a; Gupta & Derevensky, 1997; Wynne, Smith, & Jacobs, 1996).