11/01/2011, Safe Gambling

Australian Psychological Society has published a new report in which it proves that teenagers in Australia adopt the gambling habits of their parents.

According to the Australian Psychological Society, three out of five 13 to 17-year-old teenagers gamble at least once a year. Moreover, the household exposure to gambling by adults, particularly fathers, increases the risks for children, who are exposed to develop gambling problems in later life.

Associate Professor Paul Delfabbro, co-author to the study, warned that kids can adopt the gambling and sports betting habits of their parents and stated: “All the time they are reminded of the opportunity to gamble and this awareness, in addition to opportunities like at poker machines or betting at the TAB, can pose risks for young people.”

“All the evidence shows that we do what our parents do, and if kids are learning casino-style card games that teach them how to gamble, they will repeat that behaviour elsewhere,” the professor added, claiming that even teaching children how to play card games could normalise gambling among young people.

Paul Delfabbro encourages parents to talk to their children about the risks that are involved in gambling and about the risks and the odds of success.
UnitingCare Wesley spokesman Mark Henley, thinks young people are particularly vulnerable to online gambling and he believes that children should be educated at school about the dangers of gambling, just as they are educated about the risks of sex and drugs.

“Young people are much more tech-savvy than their parents and with online gambling you don't even need to leave the house…. The fact is if parents are gambling in any form, children are more likely to gamble too,” he said.