While poker machines are strictly off limits for youngsters, adolescents and teens are still finding ways to take part in gambling activities. According to ABC Melbourne, a new report shows that 80% of young people aged 10 to 24 have taken part in some form of gambling in their lives, alerting gambling support groups.
It is an alarming statistic, as Australians as young as 10-years-old are taking part in gambling activities – usually in their own homes. While parents do not think playing card games for money with their children is harmful, exposing them to gambling at a young age could lead to the development of gambling addictions.
As such, organizations like the Responsible Gambling Advocacy Centre want to ensure that something is being done to minimizing the harm of underage gambling and discourage young people from taking part in these activities altogether. They believe that it is up to society to help make this happen, rather than leaving it up to individual families.
Clubs Australia has recently proposed that responsible gambling be added to the curricula of schools across the country while other groups are urging gambling operators to cut back on the number of ads they show during sporting events. A little could certainly go a long way, and the Responsible Gambling Advocacy Centre believes that community organizations can work together to cut back on underage gambling.
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