Youth behaviours: alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and gambling

1. Youth behaviours: alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and gambling Carl Robertson, MA Smart Choices Program Manager Council on Compulsive Gambling of PA, Inc Sponsor Commonwealth Prevention Alliance July, 2012

2. “The subject of gambling is all encompassing.  It combines man's natural play instinct with his desire to know about his fate and his future.” ~Franz Rosenthal

3. If you bet on a horse, that’s gambling. If you bet you can make three spades, that’s entertainment. If you bet cotton will go up three points, that’s business. What’s the difference? Gambling is any activity or game where you risk something of value or money on an outcome that is not guaranteed.

4. History of US Gambling Evidence suggests that gambling is as old as the human race and has been a part of many great cultures in human history. Evidence suggests that the expansion of gambling has been at times both evolutionary and revolutionary. • First Wave Begins during the colonial period and extends to the mid-nineteenth century. All of the colonies used lottery to help fund themselves e.g. higher education. First lottery was in Long Island. • Second Wave Begins after the conclusion of the Civil War and continued to the early years of the twentieth century. Gambling moves west – New Orleans was supplanted by San Francisco as the hub of gambling.

5. History of US Gambling • Third Wave Begins during the Great Depression. By the close of the 1930s, 21 states had legalized race-tracks, low stakes charity bingo. During the 1940-1950s nearly every state legalized pari-mutuel. In 1931, Nevada was the first state to legalize casinos. In 1964, New Jersey was the first state with a legal ‘state sponsored’ lottery. By the late 1990s, 25 states legalized casino gambling. • Fourth Wave Begins in the late 1990s and is defined by the increase growth of commercial casinos, rapid expansion of tribally controlled gambling and the explosion of gambling on the Internet. Presently some form of legalized gambling is available in 48 states plus the District of Columbia. The two states without legalized gambling are Hawaii and Utah. (I. Nelson Rose, as cited in Dunstan, 1997)

6. What Is Responsible Gambling?Responsible Gambling Is: Gambling that is meant to be fun and entertaining. Sticking to limits with time and money. Not spending more than you can afford to lose. Gambling that DOES NOT cause problems at home, on the job, legally or financially. Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania

7. What do we know about Youth Problem Gambling? • Actually, quite a lot, there is data from sources such as: • McGill University – 1998/Present • National Research Council – 1999 • PAYS, PA - 2009

8. Prevalence Findings • US & Canadian findings…Youth • 4-8% Level III, Probable pathological gamblers (NRC, 1999) • 10-15% at-risk for problem gambling (Shaffer & Hall, 1996; Winters, Stinchfield, & Fulkerson, 1991; Wiebe, 1999; Wynne, Smith, & Jacobs, 1996) • 1.1 million youth 12-17 exhibit pathological gambling behavior (National Gambling Impact Study Commission (NGISC), 1999) • 5 million youth have serious gambling related problems (Jacobs, 2004) • A problem not limited to the US & Canada but England (Fisher, Griffiths), Australia (Delfabbro; Moore & Oshutuka), New Zealand (NZPGRC) & Spain (Becona)

9. National Research Council (1999) conclusions • 73% median value – youth gambled fairly recently • 7.7-34.9% of youth problem gambling (broadly defined) 15.5% median value • 1.2-11.2% more narrow definition of problem gambling 5.0% median value

10. Adolescent gambling • Gambling is more popular amongst males than females • Adolescent pathological gamblers are greater risk-takers • Adolescent prevalence rates of problem gambling are approximately 2-4 times that of adults • Family dynamics • 40-68% of youth gamble with family members • 80-90% of parents report knowing their children gamble for money and do not object • 77% of adolescents reported their parents purchased lottery tickets for them

11. Adolescent gambling Adolescents with gambling problems have poor general coping skills Few adolescents fear getting caught gambling Adolescent problem gamblers report beginning gambling at earlier ages, approximately 10 years of age Rapid movement from social gambler to problem gambler

12. Adolescent gambling While adolescents with gambling problems report having a support group, old friends are often replaced by gambling associates Adolescent problem gamblers remain at increased risk for the development of an addiction or multiple addictions Adolescent problem gamblers score higher on excitability, extroversion, impulsivity and anxiety & lower on conformity and self-discipline measures Adolescent problem and pathological gamblers have been shown to score lower on a measure of resiliency in light of risk factors

13. Adolescent gambling Adolescent problem gamblers have lower self- esteem compared with other adolescents Adolescent problem gamblers have higher rates of depression Adolescent problem gamblers dissociate more frequently when gambling Adolescents with gambling problems, ages 14-17, are at heightened risk for suicide ideation and suicide attempts Problem and pathological gambling has been shown to result in increased delinquency and crime, disruption of familial relationships and decreased academic performance

14. Youth involvement in addictive behaviors

15. Current research and trends in youth use of ATOD & Gambling • McGill

16. Regular* involvement in addictive behaviors * Once a week or more. Wood, Gupta & Derevensky, 2004

17. Current research and trends in youth use of ATOD & Gambling • PAYS 2009 • Statewide

18. PAYS • The Communities That Care Youth Survey (CTCYS) was adopted as the basis for the PAYS • The survey results provide an important benchmark for alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use and delinquent behavior among young Pennsylvanians, and help indicate whether prevention and treatment programs are achieving their intended results. • Alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) use is measured in the PAYS by a set of 36 questions. The questions are similar to those used in the Monitoring the Future study, a nationwide study of drug use by middle and high school students.

23. PAYS Gambling The 2009 PAYS asks students a series of six questions about their experiences with gambling. These include past-12-month prevalence measures for: gambling for “money or anything of value,” betting “money or anything of value on sporting events,” buying “lottery tickets,” betting “money using the internet,” and betting “money or anything of value on table games like poker or other card games, dice, backgammon, or dominoes.” • A question about gambling for “money or anything of value” in the past 30 days is also asked.

25. What does the average teen get out of it? • McGill conducted a qualitative study, speaking with 198 teens aged 12 to 18 in a total of 34 focus groups. • We wanted to know what motivating factors contributed to the initiation and maintenance of their gambling activities.

26. Why do they gamble? What are the perceived benefits? • Money: the possibility of earning extra money is very appealing • Excitement: a major motivating factor • Enjoyment: this was described as an “entertainment value” and was more often reported by the girls • Social: Again, most often reported by girls. Gambling is viewed as a way to promote relationships with friends and family

27. Why do they gamble? What are the perceived benefits? • Independence: Boys often reported gambling to assert their sense of importance and to feel older, since gambling is viewed as an “adult activity • Competition:Gambling presents as a challenge to compete with and win against others. This was more true for the younger teens. • Escape:This was not a common motivator listed by participants. The few who referred to it also reported recent problems with gambling experiences.

28. Reasons why children & adolescents gamble (N=1040)

29. Preferred activities…….

30. Percentage of children and adolescents engaging in various gambling activities (N=1294)

31. Important Issues • General lack of awareness among parents, teachers, and school officials regarding youth gambling problems • Proliferation of gambling venues, ease of accessibility and types of games particularly attractive to youth • Growth of Internet wagering and other forms of electronic gambling

32. Important Issues • Gambling as a primary form of entertainment. Even being televised. • Gambling promoted as a sport. Players gaining celebrity status. • Gambling online (increases accessibility). Training on practice sites. • Gambling as a career option. • Gambling being normalized, and no longer being viewed as risky.

33. Best options protecting our youth • Prevention is key, as knowledge is power • The school system is an ideal venue for administration of prevention programs. In the process, teachers are sensitized as well. • Prevention of gambling problems also translates into prevention of other high-risk behaviors. • Prevention is a proactive and necessary approach

34. Youth Gambling and Problem Gambling Gambling Problems None Mild Moderate Severe Problem Gambling No gambling Social gambling Pathological Brief Intensive Treatment Secondary Prevention Primary Prevention

35. When Does Gambling Become a Problem? Young people develop gambling problems just as adults do. Gambling is a problem when you: Often find yourself thinking about gambling Miss school or work in order to gamble Spend more and more money on gambling activities Become restless or irritable when trying to cut down or stop gambling Gamble to escape or forget your problems Gamble more to win back what you have already lost in gambling Spend your lunch or carfare money on gambling Take money from someone you live with, without their knowing, in order to gamble Steal money from outside the family or shoplifted in order to gamble Experience problems, arguments, fights etc. with your family or close friends because of your gambling. SMART CHOICES Smart Choices:Youth Problem Gambling Prevention Program A Program to help identify gambling problems and Stop them before they Start Sponsored by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania with support from the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the Pennsylvania Lottery and the Gaming Control Board To learn more go to: WWW.PACOUNCIL.COM Problem Gambling Helpline: 800-848-1884

36. RESOURCES • Be aware of local resources: • 1-800 GAMBLER • Free, confidential referral service, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week in English and Spanish. • Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania, Inc. www.pacouncil.com / 1-215-389-4008 • Carl Robertson: cersilk@comcast.net • McGill University: International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems & High-Risk Behaviors: www.youthgambling.com Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania

37. Thank You! Presented By Carl Robertson Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania www.smartchoices.cer@gmail.com Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania