New research suggests the risk of becoming a problem gambler is more than
five times higher for teens whose parents aren't aware of their gambling
activities. The research by the Responsible Gambling Council stems from a
previously released study about the gambling habits of Ontario teenagers
aged 15 to 17. The council is launching a campaign to persuade parents to
talk to their children about gambling in the hopes that household
discussions will reduce the risk of problems down the road. "If you're going
to talk about alcohol, if you're going to talk about drugs or sex, talk
about gambling too, because you can influence the future of your son or
daughter and quite possibly give them an attitude to gambling that's less
likely to get them into trouble down the road,'' said council CEO Jon Kelly.
Kelly, who has two children in their 20s, said he doesn't want parents to
approach the topic like it's another "big talk.'' He said kids would respond
better if the subject comes up naturally, such as when a poker tournament is
on TV. If a teenager — or anyone else — looks at gambling as a way to make
money, or thinks he or she can win back lost money, those are warning signs
of a potential problem gambler, Kelly said. "It's not about prohibition,''
he said. "It's about understanding that gambling is an activity which is OK
as a recreational activity but can lead to quite serious problems for some
people.'' The initial study, released in January, found that of the 2,140
Ontario teens surveyed, more than one-third gambled for money. The study
showed that more than 40 per cent of those teens played poker, 36 per cent
bought raffle tickets, 23 per cent bet on sports, 15 per cent played dice
games, and 10 per cent gambled online.