Underage Gambling: Gateway to Adult Addiction
Jennifer McCausland, Second Chance Washington, 2004
Washington was one of the first states to study the problem of underage gambling. Now we must do something about it!
Adolescents today are the first generation for whom gambling has been a fact of life. Although gambling is legal only to individuals 18 and older, today's adolescents have been exposed to a gambling industry that quite literally grew up with them. From resort destinations like Las Vegas and casinos throughout Washington State, to the increasing Internet and sports gambling, "youth have had more exposure to gambling during an age when vulnerability is high and risk taking behavior is a norm".1 Aggravated by a societal attitude that now condones any variety of gambling and State Lottery authorities that actively market gambling as an "everyone's a winner" proposition, teenagers are in danger of developing serious gambling problems, and, as studies show, adolescent gamblers are more likely than adults to become problem gamblers.2 Unfortunately, for too many Washington state adolescents, that danger is already a reality. An estimated 12-18% of all Washington state residents who have a severe gambling problem are under the age of 18.3
In 1998, despite gambling being illegal in Washington, nearly one in four adolescents were able to play bingo for money, more than one in five 17 year olds were able to purchase lottery tickets and some one in ten adolescents were able to purchase pull tabs. In fact, pull-tabs and instant lottery tickets are often a gateway activity to more serious gambling. At-risk underage gamblers are more likely to purchase instant lottery tickets and pull tabs than adolescents with an already established gambling problem.4
Studies show that increases in gambling activities, such as lottery play, are correlated with increases in other types of gambling and with the use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.5 In fact, adolescents at risk for gambling problems or those who already have gambling problems are significantly more likely than non-gamblers to have used alcohol, tobacco or marijuana in the last year.6
Another serious concern involves the prevalence of Internet gambling among adolescents. Given their knowledge of computers and familiarity with the Internet, young people find gambling on the Internet particularly appealing. As the Internet can be used anonymously, the danger exists that access to Internet gambling will be abused by adolescents. Studies have shown that most Internet gambling sites rely on the registrant to disclose his or her age and make little or no attempt to verify the accuracy of the information.7 The internet has been compared to crack cocaine by the director of the Harvard Medical School's Division on Addiction Studies, Dr. Howard J. Shaffer: "as smoking crack cocaine changed the cocaine experience, I think electronics is going to change the way gambling is experienced."8
As with programs geared toward preventing drug use and abuse, studies show that states can mitigate the development of problem gambling provided public education and awareness programs as well as treatment programs are introduced. Clearly, a statewide prevention program must be established to target at-risk adolescents. Active participation by government, community-based agencies, the gambling industries, schools and other concerned parties is imperative. Because the mean age at which adolescents begin to gamble in Washington State is 12.2 years of age9, the public education efforts must target the middle school years. State government, as with treatment for alcoholics, should fund treatment services for adolescents and their family members.
Policies must be adopted that penalize gambling operators for allowing underage gambling in their facilities. Currently, the Lottery is the only purveyor of gambling that penalizes sales to the underaged. For casino and card room owners there are no stated penalties for the sellers of gambling activities to minors.
Finally, it is obvious that expanding access to gambling opportunities in this state, especially in places frequented by teenagers, is a step backwards in the prevention of underage gambling. Most studies on the issue demonstrate a very clear correlation between access and problem gambling prevalence.
The prevalence and impact of youth and underage gambling in Washington State cannot be underestimated. It is a serious and widespread problem. As State leaders, legislators, adults and parents we not only have an urgent obligation to repair the damage of 20 years of deferred maintaince on this problem, we also have an immediate responsibility to prevent a path to what will become a debilitating adult addiction, compulsive gambling.
- Howard Shaffer, et al., Estimating the Prevalence of Disordered Gambling Behavior in the United States and Canada: A Meta-Analysis, 1997, p. 5.
- National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, Gemini Research, and The Lewin Group. Gambling Impact and Behavior Study. Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. April 1, 1999. Pgs. 3-9.
- Rachel A. Volberg, Ph.D., and W. Lamar Moore, M.S.; ÒGambling and Problems Gambling Among Adolescents in Washington State: A Replication Study, 1993 to 1999.Ó Gemini Research, Ltd., June 25, 1999, pg. 33.
- Ibid
- Ibid at 15.
- Ibid. at 24.
- National Gambling Impact Study Commission. National Gambling Impact Study Commission Final Report. 1999. Pg. 5-1to 5-5.
- Steven Crist & Don Yeager, "All Bets Are Off," Sports Illustrated, Jan. 26, 1998.
- Volberg, supra note 3, at 12.
