20-YEAR TRENDS IN JUVENILE GAMING IN NORTH AMERICA
Dr. Dewey Jacobs, professor of psychiatry of the Loma Linda University, said he had studied trends in juvenile gambling over the past 20 years in both the US and Canada. He said the lottery displays the most interest among problem gamblers.
Dr. Jacobs said studies done in the mid 1980s indicate that 45 percent of 13 year-old juveniles participated in gambling activities for money. He said today 65 percent of 12 year-old juveniles participate in gambling activities for money. He said the 20 percent increase in juvenile gambling is accompanied by the rapid infusion of gambling throughout society.
Dr. Jacobs said today 12 percent of juveniles are problem gamblers, whereas 20 years ago, ten percent of juveniles had serious gambling-related problems.
Dr. Jacobs said as more juveniles participate in gambling activities, more juveniles will be at-risk of becoming problem gamblers. He said juveniles in the U.S. manage to penetrate all forms of social and government-sanctioned gambling in and outside their home communities.
Dr. Jacobs said minors engage in gambling activities ranging from wagers on pool to cards and dice. He said gambling activities vary throughout communities, but the four most apparent among juveniles in order of prevalence are: bingo; lottery; sports betting; and cards, dice, and board games.
Dr. Jacobs said states that own gambling facilities, such as a lottery, tend to have higher rates of gambling among juveniles. He said the first national study on gambling in 1979 concluded that when a state promotes one form of gambling, all the other forms of gambling, both legal and illegal, tend to increase.
Dr. Jacobs said he conducted a three-state study in 1994 to determine the effects of a state promoted lottery on juvenile gambling. He said he found the three following commonalities, which he called the "Pied Piper" effect of lotteries on juvenile gambling
- post-lottery prevalence for juvenile gamblers had increased significantly
- the lottery had become a favorable wager when compared to other forms of gambling
- expenditure on other forms of gambling had increased from pre-lottery levels
Dr. Jacobs said the appeal of the lottery entices children to dream of the joys of winning. He said children are affected by parents that gamble excessively. He said one-forth of high school youths who describe their parents as compulsive gamblers started gambling before age eleven. He said juvenile smoking, alcohol, delinquency, and drug problems are co-related with gambling and also arise from parental displays of bad behavior.
Dr. Jacobs said research indicates that juvenile gamblers who start to gamble in grade six tend to develop worse behaviors while aging. He said juvenile gamblers who start to gamble in grade 12 do not develop many gambling problems and do not become compulsive gamblers.
Dr. Jacobs said boys tend to gamble three to five times as much as girls. He said children prefer to wager on rapid, continuous interactive games such as sports betting, arcades, and cards. He said children bet more frequently, prefer a variety of games, and wager more money.
Dr. Jacobs said children obtain money from jobs, allowances, lunch money, and relatives. He said, however, some steal. He said children gamble for fun and excitement and to win money. He said 20 percent of children gamble to escape and distract themselves from problems, boredom, and depression, as well as to make friends and feel stronger.
Dr. Jacobs said juvenile gamblers develop dissociate reactions while gambling, such as:
- losing track of time
- feeling like a different person
- feeling outside of themselves
- feeling in a trance
- experiencing a memory blackout
Dr. Jacobs said dissociate reactions grow more prevalent among problem gamblers. He said dissociate reactions show that children attempt to withdraw from unpleasant or stressful situations in their environment and to enter into an alter state of consciousness that is positive and comforting by gambling.
Dr. Jacobs said he developed a self-test for teens that reports immediate results. He said this can be an effective means for children to realize gambling problems and obtain help.
Dr. Jacobs said by 2008 it is expected that 80 percent of children will gamble for money and start at age eleven. He said also in 2008, 20 percent of children will be problem gamblers. He said the Internet will be a favored method of juvenile gambling in the future.
Dr. Jacobs said parents do not realize problem gambling's affect on juveniles. He said 80 percent of parents in the U.S. gamble. He said parents with gambling problems display actions to their children and in effect contribute to higher rates of juvenile gambling.
Dr. Jacobs said the federal government only supports research for problem gambling and does not fund education, training of professionals, or treatment. He said state governments provide minimal funding of problem gambling, which is unreliable. He said the gaming industry is the primary means of funding for problem gambling, but that the industry never takes responsibility for problem gambling.
Dr. Jacobs said juvenile gambling in North America is going to continue to increase with technology. He said age limits need to be strictly enforced for gaming. He said implementation of problem gambling education is necessary in primary and secondary schools.
In response to a question from Rep. Waters, Dr. Jacobs said children at lower socioeconomic levels, as well as minorities, show higher levels of gambling activities. He said children of lower socioeconomic and minority backgrounds do not receive much education on gambling, which might minimize their gambling patterns.
In response to a question from Dan Casas of Table Mountain Rancheria, Dr. Jacobs said parental control is necessary to minimize juvenile problem gambling.
Source: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LEGISLATORS FROM GAMING STATES, COMMITTEE ON RESPONSIBLE GAMING, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2007
http://www.nclgs.org/Minutes/8000808.pdf