A recent BBC study showed that child gambling is a growing problem, with two-fifths of 11-16 year olds reporting that they had gambled in the past year. In the UK, youngsters enjoy most playing fruit machines, followed by card games for money with friends and scratch cards. There are now 55,000 kids classed as having a gambling problem in Britain.
Communication is key
Last year, the NHS opened the first gambling clinic for children, showing how seriously the government takes the threat of addiction.
Researchers say that while over the past few decades or so, adolescents were at risk from smoking or drinking alcohol, today the new risk is gambling. Evidence shows that people who gamble earlier in life are more likely to become problem gamblers later into adulthood.
What the law says
In most countries around the world, gambling is an adults-only activity. However, in the UK, there are two exceptions to this rule. Firstly, anyone who is 16 years old or over can buy National Lottery tickets and products. These include scratch cards. Secondly, the UK doesn’t have any age restriction on category D games machines such as fruit machines.
It stands to reason then, that among the millions of under 18-year olds in the UK, some of them will develop a gambling problem or addiction.
What are the triggers?
Obviously, not everyone who is exposed to gambling becomes addicted. Some people simply have a higher chance of developing an addiction (and not only to gambling). Research shows that there is a link between people who have trouble controlling their impulses and gambling addiction.
If a minor has a parent with a gambling problem, this may also trigger an addiction now or in later life. If you think that you have your own problem with gambling, we suggest that you seek help from the many resources available. Start off by reading the FlashCasino.org guide on how to get your gambling habit under control.
Some teens develop gambling habits because they are influenced by friends or other family members. Some of them say that they gamble because they’re bored or lonely, or want to escape a tough reality, be it at school or at home.
In most cases, gambling in the teenage years doesn’t develop into anything more than a casual pastime, but sometimes it becomes a problem, and that’s where you need to step in.
How do you recognize that your child has a gambling problem?
It’s believed that the more attuned we are to our children, the easier it will be to recognize if they have a gambling addiction. However, most of the time, problem gamblers don’t show obvious symptoms and they don’t believe that they have a problem. Some may develop telltale signs such as irritability, money problems, bad grades or irritability, but the majority doesn’t.
If you suspect something is amiss in your child, ask yourself these questions and give honest answers, even if they’re brutal.
- Does your child have a new circle of friends that seems to influence him too much?
- Is your child absent from school too often, arriving late or producing poor grades?
- Has your child ‘lost’ his lunch money or bus fare once too often?
- Is your child lying to you or being secretive about his whereabouts?
- Have you caught your child stealing from your purse or shoplifting?
- Is the child particularly moody, distracted, or having suicidal thoughts?
Obviously, any one of these questions could be put down to typical teen behavior or problems in other areas of life. But it’s always worth applying them to the situation to rule out gambling addiction.
Where to go for help
Thankfully, there are many resources available in the UK that help parents identify and deal with gambling problems affecting their children. Gambling problems can be successfully treated through cognitive behavioral therapy, which usually has the best results.
There are also treatment and support groups available in the UK, such as GamCare, which offers free info, support and counselling. GamCare runs the National Gambling Helpline and offers face-to-face counselling.
The National Problem Gambling Clinic in London offers specialist help for children and young people between the ages of 13 and 25.
You don’t have to have a gambling problem yourself in order to use these resources. A great many times, it is member families who are seeking assistance in how to deal with gambling addiction with their loved ones. They get the information, counselling and advice that are needed to help them help the addict.
