How would you react if you found your 13-year-old and his/her friends passing around a bottle of hard liquor in your family room? Would you be shocked? Angry? Many families who have dealt with this troublesome scenario inevitably asked themselves, "How could this have happened in my home?"

What if the hard liquor were replaced with something just as dangerous to healthy youth development? Would you be equally as concerned? Gambling, for some youth, can have the same destructive impact as excessive drinking. The difference is we don’t think of it as harmful because "it’s only money".

The exponential increase of young people who now spend their money on a plethora of gambling outlets should be a major red flag to anyone who cares about their well-being. Before you laugh and dismiss me as some sort of extremist, let me share a few jaw dropping statistics that will get your attention.

According to a "PBS NewsHour" story, recent studies indicate that more than 70 percent of youth between the ages of 10 and 17 gambled in the past year, up from 45 percent in 1988. Almost one in three high school students gamble on a regular basis, according to the National Academy of Sciences. The most popular forms -- playing cards (e.g. Texas hold 'em), the lottery, scratch tickets -- as well as betting on sporting events.

"This is the first generation of kids growing up when gambling is legal and available virtually nationwide," George Meldrum of the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems told CBS News.

Gambling of all types has exploded on the young adult scene.

ESPN and other cable networks have glamorized Texas hold 'em tournaments by featuring high stakes games and Hollywood celebrities. Powerball Lottery promises millions of dollars to the lucky winner for the "investment" of just a few dollars. Sports betting of all kinds is only a mouse click away. And let’s not forget the new young adult rite of passage -- a night of gambling at a local casino to celebrate one's 18th birthday.

Elizabeth George, chief executive of the North American Training Institute, a nonprofit organization that specializes in the problems of pathological and underage gambling was recently quoted in a New York Times article.

"Young people particularly are drawn to it. There are superstars, then there's advertising, plus the Internet. So with all of those elements, put that into a bag and shake it up and what you have is a remarkably dangerous situation," said George.

Make no mistake about it -- gambling can be addictive. While many young people can walk away after a few money-losing experiences, others find the temptation too great for making large sums of money. So the next time you notice your son or daughter engaged in some type of gambling activity, stop and think about how that might impact their present and future financial habits.

Making healthy financial choices means thinking about all the things we can do with money. According to Youth Gambling International, gambling is the most popular high-risk activity among teenagers compared to alcohol, drugs and cigarette use. With the dramatic increase of youth participating in some form of gambling, it’s important to monitor your child’s level of interest and engagement.

For more specific information on teen gambling visit www.youthgambling.org, an international effort of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec and www.nati.org, the North American Training Institute a not-for-profit organization that was created to facilitate research and conduct professional training about gambling addiction.

How much youth gambling is too much?

This is a question every family should discuss and monitor. Just because it is widely accepted in our culture today doesn’t mean your child will be immune from the potential hazards of gambling.

While 4 percent to 5 percent of adult gamblers will develop a serious gambling problem, underage gamblers are three times as likely as adults to become compulsive gamblers.

Source: PBS NewsHour

---

If you have comments or questions for Dungan, click here.

---