“Youth Gambling: Fun - Entertainment - a Problem” November 18, 2016 Presenter Carl E. Robertson, MRE, MDiv.- Prevention Manager [email protected] Hotline: 1-800-GAMBLER (426-2537)

Learning Objectives 1. Contrast Adolescent Prevalence Rate to that of Adult Prevalence 2. 3 Reasons WHY Adolescents Gamble 3. Maryland based resource for addressing youth gambling awareness

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Gambling can be Fun

Gambling can be Entertainment

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Gambling can be a Problem

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Gambling can be a Problem Washington Post Nov 1, 2016 Man charged with killing 14-year-old in multiple shooting at dice game Prince George’s police are still looking for the killer of an 18-year-old in the incident in which four others were also wounded. → Read More Funded by DHMH/BHA

Gambling:(gaming/betting/wagering) has become normalized in our society

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What do we mean by Gambling? www.baltimoregambler.org

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• If you “yell” Bingo!, that’s fun • If you bet you can make three of a kind, that’s entertainment • If you “bet” cotton will go up three points, that’s business • If you wager at a casino, that’s gaming • If you invest money in a IRA / Stock Market 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. funded by DHMH/BHA

• Casinos: slots and table games • Lottery: scratch tickets and pick your own daily drawings

• • • • • •

Horse racing Animal fighting Dominos /checkers Dice Keno Fantasy Sports (daily)

• • • •

Pool tables Car racing Bingo/ 50-50 (raffles) Retirement investments (IRAs – stock market)

• Poker/Card games • Sports Pools: (Super-bowl, March Madness, World Series, Soccer, Hockey, Little League, High School games)

• Internet betting funded by DHMH/BHA

Is it Normal for Youth to Gamble? Why? Where? With Whom? What? www.baltimoredicezombies.org www.baltimorepromgamble.org

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Adolescence is a period of profound brain maturation. 

Previous belief that brain development was complete during childhood

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The maturation process is not complete until about age 24!!!

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Youth Developmental Issues • Nature of adolescence (stage of risk-taking, experimentation, for acceptance by peers, group conformity, etc.) • First generation of youth exposed to ready access and varied gambling venues • Gambling has become the new rite of passage • Minimum legal age to place a bet varies across states, but many opportunities for 18-year-olds in Canada, United States, and around the world

Involvement in Addictive Behaviors Total use

Alcohol Drugs Cigarettes Gambling

Gr 7 36.8% 3.5% 18.2% 79.1%

Gr 9 62.2% 13.4% 34.5% 78.9%

Gr 11 79.8% 26.5% 48.4% 83.4%

(Derevensky & Gupta, 1997; Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a)

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Weekly use Gr 7 7.4% 2.7% 7.0% 30.4%

Gr 9 14.0% 2.1% 16.1% 37.4%

Gr 11 20.2% 9.0% 31.4% 37.1%

WHY do youth gamble? What are the perceived benefits? • Money: the possibility of earning extra money is very appealing • Excitement: a major motivating factor vs boredom • 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

Where do youth gamble? 100 90 80 70 60

home friend's house school

50 40 30 20 10 0 grade 4

grade 6

grade 7

grade 8

grade 9

(Derevensky & Gupta, 1997; Gupta & Derevensky, 1998a)

grade 11

With whom do adolescent gamble 100 grade 7

90

grade 9

80

grade 11

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 alone

friends

strangers

parents

siblings

relatives

total family

What kinds of gambling games do youth gamble? 60 no problem gambler

50

social gambler some problem gambler

40

probable pathological gambler

30 20 10 0 cards

*(Once a week or more)

sports

sports lottery

lottery

video poker

bingo

slots

games of skill

Internet and mobile gambling is the fastest growing segment of the gaming industry

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Youth Internet Gambling… Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime

The New Yorker – July 5, 1993

National Annenberg Survey of Youth (Romer, 2010) N=835 (2008) N=596 (2010)

• • • •

At least once per month Internet gambling among males 14-17 rose from 2.7% (2008) to 6.2% (2010) Internet gambling among males 18-22 rose from 4.4% (2008) to 16.0% (2010) Internet gambling among females 14-17 rose from 0.5% (2008) to 1.5% (2010) Internet gambling among females 18-22 rose from 0.0% (2008) to 4.4% (2010)

Internet Gambling    

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Allows individuals to lie about their age Allows underage youth to gamble on prohibited activities Reinforcement schedules are quick Early exposure to “practice” sites may be priming youth for later gambling behavior Youth are accessing adult gambling sites The Internet provides an accessible venue for an otherwise illegal activity Rise in use as gambling severity increases

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So, Youth Gamble What can we/you do?

www.baltimoregambler.org

Gambling Prevention No one product can serve as a complete prevention strategy. Prevention should take place, repeatedly, over time, via different mediums and modalities.

Maryland Smart Choices Program Overview •

It is an evidence informed program with Pre and Post Surveys

•

Goals and Objectives : Dispel myths and erroneous beliefs about youth gambling Provide knowledge based on youth gambling prevalence data Identify warning signs / consequences of youth problem gambling Integrate positive decision making related to gambling and other highrisk behaviors 3 Lesson program with booster activities Can be presented both in a classroom or community environment

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Maryland Smart Choices Program Lesson Overview Lesson 1: Topics: What is Gambling; examples of gambling games; objects of value that can be used to gamble; facts and myths about gambling; and, Making a Smart Choice activity • Lesson 2: Topics: Understand skill vs. luck; consequences of gambling; what is problem gambling; and, Making a Smart Choice activity • Lesson 3: Topics: Understand need vs. want; what choice should Kevin make; create your own social media message; and, Making a Smart Choice activity • Booster Activity: funded by DHMH/BHA Poster contests for making a Smart Choices Calendar •

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Problem Severity Continuum

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Youth Developmental Issues • Rapid progression from social gambler to problem gambler (matter of months) • Problem and pathological gambling has been shown to result in increased delinquency and crime, disruption of familial relationships and decreased academic performance

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Costs and Consequences  In relation to their peers, adolescents are at increased risk of: - delinquency and crime - familial/peer relationship dysfunction - poor academic performance (Wynne et al., 1996) •

The degree of potential costs of problem gambling in youth depends on the frequency and intensity of the gambling issues and can be measured along a continuum of gambling risk.

• At the lower end of the continuum people often enjoy some degree of pleasure and enjoyment. As one moves up the continuum the negative effects begin to outweigh any positive effects (Korn and Shaffer (1999)). These negative effects will ultimately cause poor personal, health and social consequences. funded by DHMH/BHA

Cost and Consequences  Consequences of youth gambling can be serious for the adolescent, his/her family and peers.  Youth gambling has been associated with other mental health outcomes, including: - higher rates of depressive symptoms - increased risk of alcohol and substance use disorders (Hardoon et al., 2002) - increased risk of suicide ideation and attempt - higher anxiety (Gupta and Derevensky, 1009) - poor general health (Potenza et al., 2002)

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Anxiety Depression P roblem Gam bling

Conduct Disorder Substance Dependence

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Other Disorder

Learning problems

What is Problem Gambling? Problem Gambling is any gambling, betting or wagering that causes family, financial, legal, emotional or other problems for the gambler, their family or others: The essential features include: • Increasing preoccupation with gambling • Need to bet more and more money • Frequently restlessness or irritability when trying to stop • “Chasing” after losses and loss of control despite consequences Gambling problems can be mild or quite severe and can worsen over time and in the most severe cases lead to suicide or other negative

What do we know about Adult and Adolescent Problem Gambling? Actually, quite a lot, there is data from sources such as:

National Research Council – 1999 McGill University – 1998/Present National Council on Compulsive Gambling Gambling Prevalence in Maryland: A Baseline Analysis – 2010 • Johns Hopkins Longitudinal Studies • • • •

Youth Prevalence Findings • 1.1 million youth 12-17 yrs. exhibit pathological gambling behavior (NGISC, 1999) • 10-15% at-risk for Problem Gambling (Shaffer & Hall, 1996; Winters, Stinchfielf, & Fulkerson, 1991; Wiebe, 1999; Wynne, Smith, & Jacobs, 1996)

• Youth Gambling 4% to 6% (International Centre for youth gambling problems and high-risk behaviors; Cook et al.,2009; Welte et al.,2008; Youth Gambling in the 21st Century: Prevalence, Impact, and Interventions NICOS Chinese Health Coalition)

• Maryland Youth Estimated: 47,000-50,000 (problem/pathological based on 2011 census age projections)

Capacity 45,971 to 48,187 If you filled Camden Yards what would that represent?

Adult Prevalence Findings Maryland Baseline Survey 2010

• About 1-3% of the Adult Population of the U.S. has a Gambling Problem • Estimated to be over 4-6 million adults in the United States(combination of pathological/problem gamblers)

• Survey indicated 3.4 % of the Adult Population in Maryland are problem/pathological gamblers • (1.5% pathological/1.9% are problem gamblers) • Estimated to be over 154,400 adults in Maryland(based on Maryland Baseline projections) • Range: 128,670 – 154,400 Adult Marylanders

Implications Gambling is one of many activities that carry risk and should be addressed as such in schools, universities and community prevention efforts Gambling behavior should be a topic for parents, teachers, and student services to be talking to students about protective factors related to gambling

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Risk & Protective Factors

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Risk Factors • The greatest risk factors pertain to the direct and indirect influences of society. • Personal risk factors also play a significant role • It is the interaction of the two realms that determine a person’s level of risk or vulnerability to developing a problem with addiction

Societal influences • Video game mania

• Powerful advertisements

• Gambling fundraisers in schools and church

• Lack of prevention and awareness

• Social acceptability

• Parental modeling

• Increased venues • Internet gambling

• Web TV • Attractive games`

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Protective Factors • • • •

Knowing the risks Strong self-esteem and sense of self Emotionally secure Strong peer group that looks out for each other • Family connectedness • History of strong, open communication with loved-ones. • School or community connectedness

Resources and Links Gambling Prevalence in Maryland: A Baseline Analysis: http://www.mdproblemgambling.com/research/ Bad Odds For Youth Gambling http://magazine.jhsph.edu/2011/fall/news_briefs/bad_odds_for_youth_gamblers/ Environmental Influences Associated with Gambling in Young Adulthood http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11524-012-9751-1/fulltext.html Outcome Expectancies and Gambling Behavior Among Urban Adolescents Psychology of Addictive Behavior, 2010, Vol 24. No 1, 75-88 Emerson M Wickwire et ali. Understanding A Growing Epidemic: Teen Gambling, Rowan & Litterfield Publishers, Inc. Copyright, 2012, Jeffrey L Derevensky Web links: Roberts, C. (2014) Module 17: Youth and Problem Gambling. Youth Co-Occurring Disorders (COD) Training for Behavioral Health Providers. https://mdbehavioralhealth.com/training. This module discusses the reasons youth gamble and the people with whom they are most likely to gamble, distinguishes between adult and youth gambling statistics, and identifies youth gambling prevention resources. International Center for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors, McGill University in Montreal: http://www.youthgambling.com Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling: www.mdproblemgambing.com Funded by DHMH/BHA

 Public Awareness: campaigns through social media, TV, radio, public

service announcements, community outreach etc. helpmygamblingproblem.org A resource for help with gambling problems gamblesafewomen.org A resource for women Baltimoredicezombies.org A resource for teens Baltimorepromgamble.org A resource for teens Baltimoregambler.org A resource for residents of Baltimore aboveallodds.org A resource for college students and young adults asiangamblingsos.org A resource for the Asian community Funded by DHMH/ADAA

Thank you Carl Robertson [email protected] 667-214-2120

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