CHILDREN’S GAMBLING
FACTS AND STATS
6/10/07


Summary

"We have an epidemic.”
Ed Looney, Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ

It’s gambling--one of the
fastest-growing addictions among adolescents.

The National Council on Problem Gambling found
that teens with a gambling problem were more likely
to engage in risky behavior such as unsafe sex,
binge drinking and skipping school.

“Today more young people gamble once a week
than smoke, drink or take drugs combined.”

Gambling is "the most popular high-risk activity among teenagers,
outpacing drinking, taking drugs and smoking.

Adolescents with gambling disorders start at age 9.

• Children of compulsive gamblers are often
prone to suffer abuse, as well as neglect.
• Children of problem gamblers are at a
higher risk of developing health threatening
behaviors, including alcohol and drug abuse,
problem gambling, eating disorders,
depression, and suicide.
Missouri Department of Mental Health
www.dmh.mo.gov/ada/facts/gambling.htm

Teenagers and young adults are the fastest-growing segment of addicts.

4% OF OUR CHILDREN
ADDICTED TO GAMBLING
American Psychiatric Association
Annenberg National Risk Survey of Youth
Dr. C. Blanco: Columbia University Medical Center
J. Derevensky & R. Gupta of McGill University
ED LOONEY, NJ Council on Compulsive Gambling
Dalhousie University
Harvard Medical School
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Minnesota Institute of Public Health
National Council on Problem Gambling
M. Stone, Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling
Emily E. Wilson licensed psychologist
H. Wynne: Wynne Resources in British Columbia

CHILDREN ADDICTED TO GAMBLING COMMIT
SUICIDE AND CRIMES. THEY FREQUENTLY OWE
MONEY TO MOB CONNECTED BOOKIES

Children’s gambling debt can be over $10,000

Half of young people who gamble on the Internet weekly
display signs of problem gambling.

CHILDREN ARE MURDERED BY PARENTS
WHO ARE GAMBLING ADDICTS

* * * Danger signs
Indicators of possible gambling problem in students:
1...Unexplained absences from school
2...Sudden drop in grades
3...Change of personality (irritability, impatience, criticism or sarcasm)
4...Large amounts of money in students' possession;
......bragging about winning or gambling
5...Does the student have an unusual interest in newspapers,
......magazines or periodicals having to do with sports or horse
......racing or lotteries?
6...Intense interest in gambling conversations
7...Exaggerated display of money or other material possessions
......(e.g., cars, clothes, jewelry)
8...Change in behavior (school absences, behavior problems)
9...Gambling language in his/her conversation (5-timer, 10-timer,
......bookie, loan shark, point spread, underdog or favorite)
10...Exaggerated use of word "bet" in his/her vocabulary
11...Sports gambling tickets and or lottery tickets in their possession
12...Playing of gambling-type games on the Internet.
Source: The New Jersey Council on Compulsive Gambling