Do Your Children Gamble?
To be sure, you have talked with your children about the dangers of cigarettes, the harmful effects of alcohol, and the deadly impact of drugs. And have you ever had the opportunity to discuss gambling-associated risks? Do you think that this problem is irrelevant to your family?
We will disappoint you:
42% of children from 11 to 15 years of age wagered real money at least once last year.
This information was provided in a report by the UK Gambling Commission.
We want to add some more thought-provoking statistics:
- According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 10% of children are at risk of gambling addiction development, and 4% of teens have problems with ludomania.
- In 1998, 19% of teenagers in Oregon had gambling experience. The emergence of online gambling has probably increased their number.
Do you think the situation in your city or town is better than in Oregon? We doubt it.
Research from different countries has shown that 60% - 90% of children are involved in gambling to a lesser or greater extent.
They make it clear that your child receives information about gambling from their friends. If you don't want your child to become an addicted gambler, you should talk to them.
How to Explain Children Why Gambling Is Dangerous
There are some tips on how to talk about gambling.
- Study the topic, collect necessary information, and prepare impressive facts for the upcoming conversation. It would be best if you had answers even to unexpected questions.
- Talk about gambling easily. You can start with hypothetical questions. For example, when you see the news about substantial lottery winnings, you can say: "I wonder why most people who hit huge jackpots feel unhappy and come to a sticky end?" Then, you can easily discuss the topic.
- Explain to the child that customers lose when playing all kinds of gambling. In an accessible form, tell about the house edge, the certainty of losses, in the long run, negligible chances of winning the lottery, and other essential aspects. It would be best to emphasize that there are no roulette or pokie-winning systems.
- You should unobtrusively explain that casinos exploit human vices, such as greed, arrogance, and weak will. However, you must avoid a moralizing tone and expression, as this style sounds unconvincing to young people.
- Dispel popular myths about gambling, which are replicated in Hollywood movies and cheap novels. It is essential to inform your child that there is little romance at casinos but many impurities.
- During the conversation, ask questions and listen carefully to the answers. Neither rush to conclusions nor accuse your child.
- Explain the difference between skill-based games and games of chance where it remains to rely only on Lady Luck. However, it would help if you made it clear that, in both cases, you can become addicted.
- It would be best if you told about the massive number of scams on the Internet: fraudulent casinos, unprincipled bookmakers, sellers of "fake" winning betting systems and software, false predictions, and so on.
- Warn about dangers that children may face in real life. The development of online gambling has saved the world from thimble riggers, card sharps, and other fraudsters who want to rob trustful people.
Understanding that your practical attitude to gambling will be much more eloquent than any words is essential. If your apartment is full of lottery tickets or forms from betting offices, it is useless to tell your son or daughter how dangerous gambling is.
More Helpful Tips on Dealing with Underage Gambling
We offer some extra tips for parents:
- Monitor your child's activities on the Internet, but do this unobtrusively and delicately.
- Use Internet restriction applications. Nowadays, there are a lot of functional and user-friendly developments.
- You should know friends of your children and monitor a circle of contacts of your children.
- Discuss gambling with the parents of your child's friends if there are any suspicions that they are addicted to gambling.
- Without adults, teenagers cannot use bank cards and e-wallets to pay for goods or services on the Internet.
- If you gamble at casinos, make bets, or enjoy playing poker, do not show your child you have such hobbies. You will always be an example for your children, and they will copy your behavior.
To put it bluntly, be careful. Do not underestimate the danger.
Conclusion
Do not put off talking to the child about gambling. Do not wait until gambling becomes a real problem. You should prevent troubles instead of overcoming them and fighting against the consequences.
Do you want to discuss this topic? We invite you to write your comments. Share your experience, ask questions, and write recommendations to readers of Casinoz.
