Most young people don’t consider themselves gamblers. After all, they don’t gamble at casinos, bars or racetracks the way adults do. Yet most of today’s teens have been gambling for years.
Gambling is risking money or something else of value on an activity with an uncertain outcome. That can mean a lot of things. Playing cards or videogames for money, buying raffle tickets, betting on who’s going to win a pool match, or wagering your favourite CD on an NHL game—it’s all gambling.
Here are some facts and figures about teens and gambling in Alberta, taken from a 2005 AADAC survey of students in grades 7 to 12:
Gambling
- Overall, 37.4% of students don’t gamble, which means that about two-thirds do.
- The top three types of gambling among students are playing cards for money (41.3%), playing scratch tickets (35%), and betting on sporting events (28.4%).
- High-school students are more likely to gamble than junior-high students.
- Bingo is more popular with junior-high students than with high-school students. Most other types of gambling are more popular with high-school students.
- Less than 5% of students bet online.
- Gambling among Alberta teens has increased since 2002—especially playing cards for money.
Problem gambling
- Overall, 2.4% of students show signs of problem gambling.
- Another 5.9% of students show signs of being at risk for problem gambling.
- Males are more likely than females to be problem gamblers. Males are also more likely to be at risk of developing gambling problems.
- High-school students are more likely than junior-high students to be at risk of developing gambling problems.
Often, teens with gambling problems have troubles in other areas of their lives that they need to sort out, such as feeling lonely or arguing a lot with parents.
If you are worried that you or someone you know may be having problems with gambling, we’re here to help. AADAC Youth Services are available in communities across Alberta. Our services are free and confidential.
Contact your local AADAC office or call the AADAC Help Line at 1-866-33AADAC.
