Gambling Can Have Long-Lasting Effects on Youth
Published: December 16, 2024
Young people learn by trial and error. As they try new things, experiencing the consequences for themselves – good and bad – is part of how their brains develop, gambling counselor Marc Lefkowitz recently said in an article for Cronkite News.
But when exposed to gambling before their brains are fully developed, teens are not always equipped to weigh the risks. This is one reason they experience gambling disorders, Lefkowitz says. Other factors that contribute to a young person’s gambling can include stress relief, problems in school, and family histories of mood disorders.
Like drugs and alcohol, exposure to gambling at a young age can have long-lasting effects.
- Higher risk of a gambling disorder later in life: Research suggests that kids who are exposed to gambling – even activities considered “harmless,” like dares or internet challenges – by age 12 are four times more likely to experience gambling harms later on.
- Adverse mental health effects: Early exposure to gambling increases the likelihood of depression, anxiety, mood swings, and financial stress, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health.
- Increased rate of risky behaviors: Children who gamble are more likely to participate in other risk-taking behaviors such as underage drinking, drug use, truancy, and bullying, said Elise Mikkelsen, the director of the Division of Problem Gambling for the Arizona Department of Gaming.
- Increased suicidal ideation: About 32 percent of people experiencing a gambling disorder consider dying by suicide.
And the wide accessibility of online betting, sports betting, and video games is making it commonplace among adolescents. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, 60 to 80 percent of high school students reported gambling in the past year, and high schoolers experience gambling harms at double the rate of adults.
According to Lefkowitz, helping youth get support at the earliest warning signs, before “any brain chemistry changes,” can help address youth gambling before it starts. Here are a few ways you can help protect your child:
- Talk to teens about the risks of gambling as you would alcohol and substance use
- Monitor screen time
- Teach youth that gambling results in losing more often than winning
- Use parental controls to set guardrails around your child’s gaming, including in-game purchases
To learn more about youth gambling, gaming, and more, visit Change the Game Ohio, where you can learn how to start the conversation about youth gambling prevention and access discussion guides for parents, educators, and professionals.