New Survey Finds 1.6 Million Children Live With An Adult Who Has a Gambling Disorder
Published: October 21, 2024
The impacts of gambling disorders go far and wide. According to a new survey from GambleAware, in the U.K., 1.6 million children under the age of 18 are currently living with an adult who has a gambling disorder, and children exposed to gambling under the age of 12 are four times more likely to experience a gambling disorder as an adult.
“Gambling harms can affect anyone, which is why it is so important that we break down the stigma associated with it and encourage people to come forward and talk about gambling harm,” said Zoë Osmond, Chief Executive of GambleAware.
As a parent, caregiver, or educator, it’s important to talk to youth about the risks of gambling and educate them on the impacts. One common yet lesser-known risk is lottery and scratch-off tickets. A 2023 study from the North Carolina Problem Gambling Prevention Program found that 25 percent of youth reported playing the lottery, and 20 percent of those youths received the lottery tickets from their parents or other adults they know.
Lottery tickets, like other kinds of gambling, can come with risks due to the randomized chance of a win. That “chance” can lead people to chase their losses, a common sign of a gambling disorder.
There are other kinds of activities that can simulate the same behavior. Those include:
- Video games and apps
- Bets on school or professional sports
- Fantasy sports
- Card games
- Dares
- Internet challenges
- Trading card games
- Role-play strategy games
What are the signs of youth gambling?
- Unexplained absences
- Sudden drop in grades
- Less interest in extracurricular activities
- Withdrawing from friends
- Lunch money or valuables go missing
- Unusual interest in sports scores or video games
Change the Game Ohio can be a great resource for parents and educators to learn more about youth gambling and discuss the topic with youth. Change The Game’s helpful resources include a parent discussion guide to help start the conversation with your child, a classroom handout for educators to implement, and a quiz for you to gauge if your child is at risk.
And if you think the child in your life might be at risk for developing a gambling disorder, don’t hesitate to call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966. Trained and understanding specialists are standing by to offer free, non-judgmental, and confidential support 24/7.