Teenage Gambling and Addiction

Gambling today is all around us. From the local lottery to football pools at work, gambling has become as much a part of our lives as shopping or eating with the family. But for millions of teens it may develop into so much more than the occasional bet with friends.

It can become an obsession, a way of life. The problem of gambling compulsively is a crippling illness that can destroy families, friends, jobs, and lives. Many history books specializing in the study of the legal aspects of gambling, argue that gambling in the United States has gone through three historical phases. Gambling thrived during the colonial and post revolutionary periods. Governments supported and encouraged lotteries.

Lotteries however were not the only type of gambling during this time. Wagering on horse racing was another popular form of gambling. Racing though was not quite as organized or as complex as modern day horse racing. Instead the gambling was only between a few owners of horses and their partisans. The first racetrack in the United States was built in Long Island, New York in 1665. With the end of Jacksonian morality, came the end of the first phase, gambling scandals and outright fraud caused the ban of lotteries and gambling. By 1862, all states expect Kentucky and Missouri outlawed lotteries. The second phase began after the civil war.

Southern states that were desperate for revenue turned to lotteries. New laws were enacted legalizing gambling houses so that states could collect taxes on them. As gambling moved west it became more pervasive, and laws were much more difficult to enforce. In the 1890s scandals in the Louisiana lottery resulted in new anti-lottery laws. Legislation banning lotteries in many states soon followed, some were even written into the State Constitution.

The second wave of legal gambling was short-lived. Scandals and the rise of Victorian morality led to the end of legal gambling. Virtually all forms of gambling were prohibited in the United States by 1910. There was legal betting in only 3 states, which allowed horse racing, but even that number shrank in years following. The thoughts about gambling ran so strong that Arizona and New Mexico were required to outlaw casinos to gain statehood.

The prohibition however did not stop gambling. There were many types of illegal gambling houses. Some operated openly for many years, but had to pay protection money to the law enforcement authorities for this privilege. The third and present phase began during the great depression of the 1930's. The great depression led to a much greater legalization of gambling.

The anti-gambling mood changed as major financial problems gripped the country, especially after the stock market crash of 1929. This societal problem, like teenage smoking, drinking and drug abuse, is yet one more area we will need to give attention to.

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Parents Educate Themselves On Teenage Gambling Addiction

Parents now realize if their teenager develops a compulsive gambling addiction their future course of action and time involvement is unknown. This isn’t something that is here today and gone tomorrow.

Compulsive teenagers with a gambling addiction have one or more of the following in common:

1. School grades drop

2. Social development decreases

3. Low self esteem

4. Self destructive behavior

5. Asking you why this happened to them?

6. Thinking suicide is the only way out.

7. Stealing

8. Pawning personal possessions

9. Negative Attitude

10. Cutting School

11. Disappearing for long periods of time

12. Blaming the parent because they gamble too.

13. Working a part time job to pay off debts

14. Stopped after school activities

15. Watched poker tournaments on cable and television

16. I tried to stop but I couldn’t

Parents have been forced to educate themselves on the above when confronted with their teenager’s gambling addiction. From there they try to find answers instead they have more questions. They are not looking to point the finger but really to get help for their child. They also would like to help prevent another parent from having to deal with this addiction.

The following questions were raised by parents regarding the local school gambling event:

1. Has the school systems educated themselves to guarantee that gambling is equal to arts and crafts?

2. If one student develops a gambling addiction will the school system compensate the family for the negative affects on their teenager?

3. Will the school system cover all medical expenses if needed?

4. Should the post prom committee be legally responsible if just one student becomes addicted to gambling?

5. What does the law state?

6. What’s happening to our children’s future?

7. How I can tell my kid he can’t go when all his friends are going?

8. Is there something wrong with me, because I disagree with the school system?

9. How can I write a letter to the school board when my son may find out it was me objecting to the gambling event?

As a parent when you find out it’s your child who has the gambling addiction, what are you going to do? From a majority of the emails I receive, parents question and ask. “How did this happen to my teenager? I am a good parent.”

Just as you have to take the time to talk to your children about, protective sex, drugs and alcohol you now have to explain the effects of gambling.

Teenagers who grow up in a house where their parents are active gamblers are more likely to gamble too. A school event puts a stamp of approval on gambling.

Parents have asked for statistical proof that the upcoming post prom gambling party will have a negative effect on their teenagers. I gave the parent specific examples of real situations. This was not sufficient for the prom committee. They wanted to know what percentage? And how many students will be negatively affected by this event?

I haven’t been in high school for twenty years. I am amazed by the current events in our school systems.

The following was never heard of when I was in high school:

1. Teenage gambling addiction

2. Gambling at the post prom party

3. Teachers sleeping with students

4. Students shooting students on school grounds

5. Gambling on school grounds before and after class

6. Teenagers addicted to the Computer

7. Teenagers addicted to video games

8. Protective Sex

9. 911

Before I wrote this article I had fewer questions. The more you look into this subject matter more questions come up. Should gambling in schools be eliminated if the local law states no one under eighteen can gamble?

Gambling is the wagering or betting of money on games of chance. Even though most people believe it’s a form of recreation, it can become a psychologically addictive and harmful behavior in some people.

It’s very hard to track a teenager who has a gambling addiction. Once they graduate high school they are on their own start their life

If a teenager develops a gambling problem, in a majority of these situations parents are not going to openly admit their child has a gambling addiction. Once again we have limited statistics.

It’s possible no one ever sat back and looked at this subject realistically because it’s new. Education is the key.

For more information on Stop Teenage Gambling Website [http://www.teenage-gambling-addiction.org] and I Stopped Gambling So Can You http://www.istoppedgambling.com.

Mr. Howard Keith has an extensive background in dealing with compulsive gamblers, relatives and friends of gamblers and teenage gamblers. Mr. Keith believes there are many alternatives to aid in the recovery of a gambling addiction verses a twelve step program. A large percentage of his emails were from compulsive gamblers looking for an alternative to Gamblers Anonymous and twelve step programs. Gamblers Anonymous also helps a significant number of people each year but there is a large percentage that they are unable to reach.

Teenage Gambling At Post Prom High School Party

The latest trend to hit high schools is supervised teenage gambling at the Post Prom School Party. Over the past few months I have received numerous emails from parents, students and school faculty expressing concern about the new alternative entertainment. In all cases these people believe it would do more harm then good.

The concept became reality for students once the Post Prom Committee voted to accept this new alternative entertainment.

This Post Prom Committee believes this is safe night party for the High School prom. The students who are taking part are between the ages of sixteen and eighteen years old. Each student is able to purchase fake money to gamble with and at the end of the night they can trade this money in for prizes with at the end of the night. Some parents believe this is a safe wonderful event for their children. While others believe this is one area they prefer their kids not be involved with.

One of the emails I received was from a family who home schools their five children. I was surprised since their kids were not involved. She had explained to me that her daughter who is seventeen has friends who attend the public school system. She went on to tell me the negative behavior exhibited by these teens after the event took place. In fact they taught her daughter how to play black jack and poker. This is a good neighborhood that has strong community ties. She also informed me that she not see the difference between using fake money or real money when you still have a chance to win a prize that has value. She believes these teens are being educated on how to gamble, win and take the easy way out.

People in favor of this gambling event, nicely told those who were against it to have their teenager’s stay home. It was my understanding the post prom parties were supposed to be for everyone.

It surprised me that a school district finds gambling night an acceptable behavior for our teenagers.

I have seen first hand the self destruction gambling can do to teenagers and adults. It’s my belief that gambling should be limited to people who are eighteen and over.

Another email was asking me for the specific statistics on the negative impact on a teenager’s who attend a gambling event. General statistics reflect a percentage of those in attendance will develop a compulsive gambling addiction. Some of these same students may become addicted at some point in their life. I have found that addictions to gambling are not age sensitive. People of any age who are gambling for the very first time can develop a gambling addiction. Usually a friend or family member takes them to the gambling establishment. I first found it difficult to understand how a person who is sixty five retired and on a fixed income gets addicted to gambling. The seniors I spoke with were very upset and didn’t understand how this happened to them. The unfortunate part is they lost their pensions and now only have their Social Security to live on. In one case the Grandmother has to move in with her daughter.

There is very little difference between supervised gambling and allowing supervised drinking alcoholic beverages or serving the students there choice of dugs on a silver platter. If a Principal served a student an alcoholic drink he would be arrested. I am trying to understand how school educators and parents can distinguish between alcohol and gambling on school property. How is one more acceptable then the other?

Studies have shown that there is a correlation between alcohol addiction and gambling addiction. The correlation was based on individuals who attend both Gamblers Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

It would be a shame to find out ten years from now that students who took part in supervised gambling at the High School level their future was compromised by a life of self destruction and low self esteem.

It’s a proven statistics that students who gamble get a similar rush as if they just had an alcoholic beverage. The only difference here they will not wake up with a hang over and the side effects are minimal until it’s too late.

We have now given our students another option in life. The major concern is the student’s will probably like the rush from gambling a lot more then alcohol and or drugs since there is no hang over or smell. Some students are likely to continue gambling. Students with A grades are not exempt from this. Statistics show that compulsive teenage gamblers are also very bright and articulate individuals.

People need to be educated on teenage gambling and its long term affects. It’s illegal to gamble if you are under 18. It’s also illegal to drink if you are under 18 (some places 21) and it’s illegal to smoke cigarettes if you are under 18. These laws were set for a reason. Another email I received wanted to know do these school systems have any respect for the Law?

I emailed each of the people and asked why haven’t they raised their concerns to the school board? They all responded the same. “We are the minority and now we look bad in front of our kids.” This is truly a no win situation.

The parents who are against this sort of entertainment believe; if just one student develops a compulsive gambling addiction that is one too many.

For more information on Stop Teenage Gambling Website [http://www.teenage-gambling-addiction.org] and I Stopped Gambling So Can You http://www.istoppedgambling.com/.

Mr. Howard Keith has an extensive background in dealing with compulsive gamblers, relatives and friends of gamblers and teenage gamblers. Mr. Keith believes there are many alternatives to aid in the recovery of a gambling addiction verses a twelve step program. A large percentage of his emails were from compulsive gamblers looking for an alternative to Gamblers Anonymous and twelve step programs. Gamblers Anonymous also helps a significant number of people each year but there is a large percentage that they are unable to reach.

Stop Teenage Gambling Education Needed At Local Schools

For the past few years teenage gambling has been increasing at an exponential rate. The increase in gambling can be contributed to family members who gamble, multiple television programs like poker tournaments and skillful advertising from the gambling establishments. It’s becoming an epidemic among our teenagers with no real solution being presented to the educators of our schools systems.

The new stream of commercials related to stop gambling has had very little affect. The commercials are geared towards helping people stop gambling but are not geared towards the individuals who have not experienced gambling at this point in time. The stop gambling commercials have not been able to reach the teenager with a compulsive gambling addiction. They however may reach the parents who may realize their child has a problem.

The only way to help our youth is to educate them in the classroom and at home. I remember years ago in health class they educated us on smoking and drinking. This was very effective on those individuals who never started. But the ones that were already addicted the educational programs were unable to reach them.

There following educational curriculums will be available to ship by August 2005 in order to give teachers the proper resource tools to deal with this growing problem:

a) Helpful Resources for identifying teenagers who may have a compulsive gambling addiction.

b) Helping Teenagers identify their compulsive gambling addiction

c) Educating teenagers on compulsive gambling addiction. This one is my favorite because this has the best opportunity to prevent a teenager from gambling, helping teenagers identify the signs of compulsive gambling addiction and if the teenager has a problem with gambling.

d) Giving Teenagers the tools to identify others who may have a gambling addiction like their parents. This one has to be handled sensitively. I have received numerous emails from teenagers who did not know where to go, who to talk to in order to help a family member.

e) Educating Teenagers on the resources available to get help by giving them the local stop gambling telephone numbers and helpful stop gambling websites.

f) Understanding Compulsive Gambling Addiction

g) Practical exercises for teenagers with addictions to learn about self esteem, trust and more.

The above educational curriculums are to be used as a guide for professionals who want to educate the teenage population. The curriculums were based on real life situations. It’s their goal to reach these students at the age where gambling is most likely to affect their future and to help teenagers who have a compulsive gambling addiction.

More educational information can be found at the website [http://www.teenage-gambling-addiction.org].

Teenagers that have been negatively affected by compulsive gambling addiction exhibit signs of self destructive behavior and an apathetic view towards school. By noticing the warning signs early, helps a teenager’s recovery to accelerate.

Our future is in our children. By giving them a good education and family foundation we will help them to survive in this world.

Another website that deals directly with compulsive gambling addiction and also has stop gambling resources is the I Stopped Gambling So Can You http://www.istoppedgambling.com/. This website can help the family members and friends of gamblers. It also has self help books available.

Mr. Howard Keith has an extensive background in dealing with compulsive gamblers, relatives and friends of gamblers and teenage gamblers. Mr. Keith believes there are many alternatives to aid in the recovery of a gambling addiction verses a twelve step program. A large percentage of his emails were from compulsive gamblers looking for an alternative to Gamblers Anonymous and twelve step programs. Gamblers Anonymous also helps a significant number of people each year but there is a large percentage that they are unable to reach.

Teenage Gambling Addiction is a Real Problem

Teenage gambling is becoming more and more of a problem with each passing year. Teenagers can gamble on video games with their friends, gamble online, and engage in poker games with friends. This problem is deepening as more and more teenagers engage in gambling in one form or another.

Studies have shown that gambling in teenagers is on the rise and that it does not seem to be slowing down. The glamorizing of poker games by celebrities on television has had a negative impact on teenagers.

These teens believe that gambling is the road to easy money and huge sums of cash. They believe gambling to be an exciting dreamworld that they want to soon become part of.

Gambling addiction can occur very easily in these teens because of the adrenaline high that happens while engaging in a gambling activity. Studies have also shown that teens can become addicted very fast, and that it is much harder to break the gambling addiction habit when starting at such a young age.

The effects of a teen gambling problem are as follows:

1. Cutting school, and having unexplained absences.

2. Poor grades that become worse and worse

3. Money problems and stealing money from parents.

4. Constantly needing money for poorly explained reasons.

5. Preoccupation with gambling and social isolation, except with gambling friends.

6. Engaging in forms of illegal behavior.

7. Use of drugs and alcohol.

8. Unexplained mood changes.

9. Poor sleep habits and hygiene.

So what do parents do when they suspect that their teenager has a gambling problem or gambling addiction? Because every situation is different, there is no "one size fits all answer". However, there are a few things that you can do.

1. Insist that your teenager visits a counselor or therapist. A specialist in gambling addiction will be your best bet. Your first session will be known as an intervention.

2. Make sure that your teenager has no access to cash or credit cards and keep your cash and credit cards locked up so your teen has no access to this.

3. You teen will most likely not admit that he or she has a gambling problem or gambling addiction. This does not matter at the beginning, however. You are the parent and you can decide the intervention.

4. Insist that your teenager attend a Gamblers Anonymous or other 12 Step Group. You can attend a Gamanon meeting which is usually next door to the Gamblers Anonymous Meeting.

Michelle Tee is a self-help coach and author on the subject of gambling addiction . If you are looking to stop gambling and have not had success in the past, visit her site today.