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Dear <insert principal's name>: We have enclosed some materials for your consideration as we complete the details of conducting the youth gambling survey
at your school. We will be in touch shortly to set up some dates for the survey, and a meeting to discuss your requests regarding
the survey and whether or not you would like us to speak to your staff about this questionnaire.
The survey should take about 20 minutes and require no more than 30 minutes including instructions and handing out and collecting
materials. For those students who are not taking the survey, we have prepared an alternative activity that has various levels
of difficulty. These activities can be used for follow up discussions between students who have done the survey and those
who have only read information on youth gambling.
<insert the name of the superintendent of the school board> has been kept informed of the progress and the processes of this
research project. The consent process will be handled by the research project office. In this package, we have included a
sample announcement, which can be used to obtain signatures from parents or guardians who can then return them in the pre-addressed,
pre-stamped envelopes to our office.
We have also included an information sheet on youth gambling for school counsellors and teachers, which includes statistics
on the high prevalence rates of youth gambling in Canada.
We are currently in touch with someone who is developing curriculum for secondary schools that addresses gambling issues.
We hope to provide you with this curriculum for pilot testing in the <insert time of year>. The units are 30 minutes long
and might fit into your TAG schedule and program.
We will be in touch with you, but please do not hesitate to contact us at the telephone numbers provided below. Thank you
very much for assisting us with this important research.
Sincerely, <insert contact telephone numbers> Questions & answers Why are you researching youth gambling? The above points clearly illustrate that the community should be concerned with this issue and need to work toward preventing
youth problem gambling.
What is the purpose of this survey? Previous research in Canada has shown that 7% to 28% of teens in Canada have serious gambling-related problems. Since we already
know that youth gambling is a problem, we want to move beyond this and find out how to prevent youth gambling, help youth
at risk and assist youth problem gamblers so they can reduce or quit their gambling. Our survey specifically looks at types
of teen gambling behaviours and how teens go from experimental gambling to problematic gambling. The results from this survey
will be used to help us develop prevention, treatment and harm reduction interventions that will meet the needs and preferences
of youth in the Niagara region.
What is the definition of gambling? Gambling is “the act of risking money or something else of value on an activity with an uncertain outcome.” Playing cards
or video games for money, buying raffle tickets, betting on who is going to win the next game of pool or wagering your favourite
CD on the outcome of a sports event — it's all gambling.
What is the legal age to gamble? Why do youth gamble? What age do youth start gambling at? Problem gamblers report starting gambling at a serious level at approximately age 10. What types of gambling do youth engage in? Why is youth gambling increasing? How do you know if you have a gambling problem? If you say, “yes” to 4 or more of these items you may have a gambling problem. How do you know if a teenager has a gambling problem? What is low-risk or responsible gambling? If someone has a gambling problem where can he or she go for help? N.A.D.A.S. Gambling Treatment 905-684-1183 Problem Gambling Help Line (24-hour telephone counselling) 905-684-1859 Problem Gambling Help Line (toll free) 1-888-230-3505 Other youth help centres that address a wide range of youth issues: Distress Centre Niagara 905-688-3711 Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 Niagara Centre for Youth Care 1-800-263-4944 Niagara Alcohol and Drug Assessment Service (N.A.D.A.S.) 905-684-1183 Family and Children's Services 905-937-7731 To indicate students' eligibility, the researchers (not the school) will track which students obtain parental consent by using
class lists.
Each research assistant will assemble a package containing a class list, which indicates eligible students; general information;
consent forms and questionnaires for each of the eligible students; alternative tasks for the remaining students, and instructions
to the teacher.
Research assistants will be given a script to read to the classes, which will explain the nature of the study to the students. The research assistants will also provide students with the following information prior to the commencement of the survey: (For newsletter) Attention Parents/Guardians: <insert name of university> and <insert name of alcohol and drug assessment service> are trying to find out more about youth
who gamble in the <insert region>. With parental permission, high school students in the <insert region> will have the opportunity
to complete a survey on youth gambling.
Please expect to receive a letter in the mail in <insert month and year>. The letter will explain this project in more detail.
There will also be a permission form that parents/guardians need to sign. We request that you return the permission form in
the pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelope which is enclosed. Please indicate if you want your child(ren) to participate in this
survey. If you have any questions about this project please contact <insert name of contact person>.
(For school announcement) All students at <insert name of high school> have been invited to take part in a <insert name of university research project>
on teen gambling. Information and a permission form have been mailed to your home. Please remind your parents/guardians to
sign the permission form and mail it back to <insert name of university>. <insert name of university> thanks you for your
participation in this important research.
Dear Parent/Guardian: All students at <insert name of high school> are invited to take part in a very brief study about youth gambling. The goals
of the study are to (1) find out more about teenagers' gambling behaviours, and (2) find out why some adolescents progress
from experimental gambling to problem gambling. The study will consist of an anonymous and short paper-and-pencil survey.
If you wish to view the survey, click <insert Web address> or contact us to have a survey mailed to you.
The survey will ask your children about their gambling behaviours, school work, after-school activities, substance use and
risk-taking behaviours. There are no questions about religion, sexuality or violence. The survey will be carried out during
school time, in the classroom, and will take about 20 minutes to complete. The survey is totally anonymous; there are no identifying
marks or codes, and there is no place for children to put their names.
When the results of the study are reported, all answers will be grouped together, so no one can trace a specific answer back
to one student. Your child's involvement in this study is completely voluntary, meaning that she or he can skip questions
or stop doing the survey at any time. If your child doesn't complete the survey, this will not affect your child's school
grades in any way.
Next <insert time of year> the results of this study will be presented to teachers and students, posted at the main office
of the school and on our Web site. Results will also be presented in professional and scholarly forums. If you so request,
a summary of the study results can be mailed directly to you.
To indicate whether your child can or cannot take part in the study, please complete the enclosed permission slip and return
it to us in the pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelope. Or if you would like to talk to someone about the study, please contact
<insert contact name> or the <insert name of university office of research services>. This study has been approved by the
<insert name of regional board of education>, the school's principal and <insert name of university ethics review committee>.
Thank you for considering our study. If I give permission for my child(ren) attending <insert name of high school> to participate in this study, I understand that
I will be allowing my child(ren) to partakeicipate in a study which asks questions about gambling, behaviours related to gambling,
school work and after-school activities. Results of this study will help health professionals and educators develop better
prevention and treatment interventions for <insert name of region> youth. My child(ren)'s participation in this study will
be completely voluntary. Therefore, my child(ren) can skip any questions on the survey or withdraw from the study at any time
for any reason. All information provided by my child(ren) is anonymous and will be kept confidential. Results of this study
will never identify my child(ren).
If you wish to see a copy of the survey go to <insert Web address>. If you have questions about your child(ren)'s participation
in the study, contact <insert contact name> or the office of research services at <insert name of university>. Results of
this study will be published and presented through professional and scholarly forums. Results will also be posted on our Web
site. However, if you would like to receive a written summary of the results, please check here □. (The results will be available
in the <insert time of year>). This study has been approved by the <insert name of school board> and <insert name of university
ethics review committee and file number>.
Your parents/guardians gave you permission to take part in a study about gambling. The goals of this study are to find out
(1) more about teenage gambling, and (2) why some teenagers gamble a little and others gamble a lot.
You should know that the survey is totally anonymous. This means no one — not your parents, your teachers, not even your friends
— will know what you wrote on the survey. And when the results of the study are reported, everyone's answers will be grouped
together so no one can trace your answers back to you. You should also know that your involvement in this study is completely
voluntary, which means you can skip questions or stop doing the survey at any time.
If you agree to be in this study, you will be given a paper-and-pencil survey. The survey will ask questions about your gambling
behaviours, school work, after-school activities, substance use and risk-taking behaviours. It will take you about 20 minutes
to complete.
If you want to do the survey, read this, then sign your name. Any questions I had about the study have been answered, and I understand that 〈 I am agreeing to be in this study, which asks questions about gambling, school and other behaviours (like drinking and smoking). 〈 My answers on the survey are anonymous, so no one, except me, knows what I wrote.
〈 My answers on the survey will be kept strictly confidential (this means private). 〈 My participation in this study is completely voluntary. Therefore, I can skip any questions, or even stop doing the study
at any time for any reason.
〈 My answers will be grouped with other students' answers, then used to develop prevention and treatment programs for teenagers
in the <insert name of region>.
Signature________ Date_____
If you have any questions or concerns about the study, you may contact <insert contact name>. Thank you for your help! This study has been approved by your school and by the <insert name of university ethics review committee and file number>. [Not available online.] (A copy of the survey was enclosed in the package for principals to review.) Please read the following article and answer the questions below: Most people think that only adults have gambling problems. This is not true. Youth in Canada and the United States have been
surveyed, and these surveys show that between 4% to 8% of teenagers (mostly males) have serious gambling problems, and another
10% to 14% of teenagers are at risk of developing a serious gambling problem. These numbers are alarming.
Teenagers who have gambling problems usually start gambling at age 10 or 11. Teens participate in many types of gambling,
such as playing cards or bingo for money, games of skill, scratch and pull-tab cards, sports betting and sometimes going to
the casino. Lottery tickets are teenagers' favourite way to gamble. Did you know that it is illegal to purchase lottery tickets
and scratch tickets if you are not 18?
Most parents and teens think that gambling is not dangerous. Again, not true Ñ gambling can be dangerous. Teens that have
gambling problems constantly think about gambling, spend more money than they want to, gamble to escape their troubles, miss
school, steal to pay back their debts, lose friends and argue with parents or family members because of their gambling.
Most teens do not have gambling problems, and most teens report that they gamble just for fun, but it is important to remember
that there are also negative consequences to gambling. Gambling can become an addiction just like cigarettes, alcohol and
drugs. While teens are usually warned by parents, teachers and the media that alcohol and drugs are addictive, they are not
warned about the negative effects of gambling. As well, the media and the government make gambling appealing to teens by naming
tickets after children's games (e.g., bingo, Monopoly, Battleship) and using slogans such as “Everyone's a Winner.” It has
been reported that the increase in teen gambling is due to the aggressive marketing of these lottery tickets and the increase
in the availability of gambling opportunities in Canada and the United States.
We hope more information will be made available to teens, parents, schools and our communities to let everyone know that gambling
can lead to problems similar to alcohol and drugs. If people are more educated about the consequences of gambling then maybe
they will be more careful, and there will be fewer gambling problems.
Questions What is the most surprising fact in this article? Why is there an increase in youth gambling? How do you feel about the government aggressively marketing lottery tickets to kids? What do you think should be done to ensure that young people do not develop gambling problems? Why do you think it's mostly males who become problem gamblers? What problems do you think adolescent problem gamblers are likely to experience? Teen gambling Types of gambling that teens participate in: Did you know that it is illegal to buy lottery tickets and scratch tickets if you are not 18? Teens that have gambling problems GAMBLING CAN BECOME AN ADDICTION JUST LIKE CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS. If more teens know that gambling can lead to problems then maybe they will be more careful and there will be fewer gambling
problems.
Please answer the following questions: What type of gambling do you think kids your age do? Write down three bad things that can happen if you gamble a lot. What can we do so that teens don't have gambling problems? In the space below, draw a poster that will show how to prevent teens from gambling. Thank you! We appreciate your time and co-operation in completing our survey. The answers you have provided will be grouped with the
answers from all other participants. Once compiled, this information will help us understand how and why teenagers gamble.
In fact, health professionals, counsellors, teachers and others will use this information to develop better prevention and
treatment interventions for young people in the <insert name of region>.
Sometimes, after you do a survey like this, you may want to talk to someone about your answers. If you want to talk about
anything that we covered in this study, please see your guidance counsellor or school nurse. If you don't want to do that,
you can call one of the following places instead.
Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 N.A.D.A.S. Gambling Treatment 905-684-1183 Problem Gambling Help Line (toll free) 1-888-230-3505 The final results of this study will be posted in several areas at your school, or you can find them on our Web site at <insert
Web address>. You can also get information about the results — or any other part of this study — by contacting the researchers
at <insert phone number>.
Text Box: Did you know? In Canada, 4% to 8% of teenagers have a serious gambling problem, and 10% to 14% of teenagers are at risk of developing a
serious gambling problem.
Many teenagers do not think that hockey pools, Pro-line/Sports Select, break-open tickets or lottery tickets are gambling
activities Ñ they are!
Youth gambling problems are increasing. Dear <insert principal's name>: The first phase of <insert name of university, e.g., Brock University's > youth gambling research is nearing completion, and
we have prepared a special report for schools, complete with an executive summary for principals.
Although we are pleased with the project thus far, there were several limitations to a survey such as this. We had a total
of 2,252 students, but in some of the categories, only a handful of students were represented. As well, in a survey of this
nature, we have to consider the tendency for a small percentage of youth to over or under report about their behaviours. These
actions do not diminish the significance of the report but are a cautionary note on interpreting the data. This survey is
one step in an attempt to understand the complexities of adolescents and problem/addictive behaviours.
As discussed previously, our research team would like to provide you and your staff with an interesting and interactive presentation
that will explain the key findings of our research and suggest recommendations for secondary schools based on these results.
Links to youth gambling prevention materials, curriculum and treatment resources will also be provided during this presentation.
We will be in touch shortly to set up a date.
In order for our research team to evaluate how the entire research process was for all participating schools, we are asking
principals to complete the enclosed evaluation form. Please do not put your name on the form Ñ all information is confidential.
Please forward the form to <insert contact name and school board>. <insert contact name> will ensure that confidentiality
is maintained by placing all evaluations together in an envelope and forwarding it to <insert name of university>.
Thanks very much for being a part of this important work. Let's hope that we can continue to work together in providing education,
counselling and other forms of assistance to young people who face so many challenges as they grow up.
Sincerely, Our research team is interested in knowing how the entire research process was for you and your school. Please complete the
following form and forward it to <insert name of contact> at the <insert name of school board>. Your comments and feedback
are greatly appreciated.
Was communication effective in planning the administration of the youth gambling survey? __________ Did the research team administer the survey with minimal disruption to your school? __________ Did staff and students' awareness of youth gambling increase as a result of participating in this research project? __________ Would you or your school participate in further activities with this project? __________ Was the research report understandable and informative? __________ Additional Comments: __________ Report on Adolescents and Gambling: Attitudes and Behaviours of Youth in the Niagara Region, (Sample report) March 2002, The
Youth Gambling Research Initiative, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, L2S 3A1, Phone: (905) 688-5550 Ext. 4566, www.youthgambling-research-initiative.ca Authors: Dr. Kelli-an Lawrance, PhD Dr. John Yardley, PhD Lisa Root, MSc Bob Canham, BEd Jennifer McPhee, MSc Acknowledgements: The authors of this report gratefully acknowledge the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre (O.P.G.R.C.) for funding this
important study. More than 2,000 students from nine secondary schools in the Niagara Region completed our survey, which addressed
adolescents' attitudes and behaviours related to gambling. We extend our sincere thanks to these students as well as the principals,
teachers, staff members and school board officials who so generously assisted us with this study. Thanks is also extended
to the members of our aAdvisory Committee for their contributions to this project. Members include the following: Dr. Kelli-an
Lawrance (chair), Dr. John Yardley, Lisa Root, Bob Canham, Jennifer McPhee, Angela Lippert, Heather Travis, and Kristie Willson.
Finally, we would like to thank our excellent team of research assistants for their devotion to the project and their assistance
in administering the surveys. Many thanks to: Aimee Beaubien, Nicole Barroni, Katie Burrows, Christena Butts, Michael Clark,
Ben Custers, Bonnie Davis, Wayne Deruiter, Tara Doyle, Lyndsay Elliott, Jason Failes, Anita Federici, Chrissy Fera, Eva Gazso,
Anthony Goodman, Ruma Goswami, Rob Kappes, David Lawrence, Kellie Murphy, Fern Pham, Casey Phillips, Andrea Ross, Caroline
Richardson, Caroline Sottile, Nancy Santamaria, Caroline Sottile, Tanya Scott, Marcelle Sloetjes, Karilyn Reid, Wendy Shanahan,
Jamie Sheepwash, and Chris Van Nest.
Over the past year, the Youth Gambling Research Initiative has focused on (1) exploring youth gambling perceptions and behaviours,
and (2) examining patterns of gambling behaviour in teens along a continuum from experimental to problem gambling. Our goal
is to better understand how some youth progress from experimental gambling to problem gambling and why some don't. We believe
that if we gain a better understanding of this process, we can use this information to guide the development of prevention/education
and harm reduction interventions.
A questionnaire was completed by 2,252 secondary school students in the Niagara Region. This self-report survey included questions
that asked teens how often they gambled, what types of gambling they did, what tempted them to gamble and how they perceived
their own gambling behaviours. In a survey of this nature we have to consider the tendency for a small percentage of youth
to over and under report about their behaviours; however, these actions do not diminish the significance of the information
in this report. Preliminary findings are outlined in this descriptive report. The report is designed to function as an information
guide for school boards, related agencies, students who participated in the survey and the parents of these students. Most
importantly, the information contained in this report will be used to guide the development of interventions aimed at preventing
or reducing youth gambling problems.
Prevalence rate of teen gambling in the Niagara region:
Frequency of gambling among teens in the past year:
Preferred gambling activities: Teens' self-perceptions of their gambling behaviours: Beliefs about the positive outcomes and negative consequences of gambling: Temptation to gamble: Skill versus luck: Alcohol use, drug use and smoking among teens that gamble: Clinical measures of teen gambling. According to an adolescent screening tool used to assess teens' level of gambling severity: Comparing teens who accurately labelled themselves as problem gamblers to teens who did not: Do teens who gamble problematically want to quit or reduce their gambling? Based on the findings outlined in this report, it appears that: Summary This information should be invaluable to help youth, families, educators, health and social services personnel, and policy
makers better understand the factors leading to youth gambling and the issues it encompasses. This information speaks to the
need for prevention/education and harm reduction interventions, and for adolescents it can possibly serve as protection against
potential gambling problems. We plan to use this information to develop such materials, which will be made available to others
who will support this endeavour.
Dear Parent/Guardian: The <insert name of university> would like to thank you for allowing your child(ren) to participate in our youth gambling
survey. Our research team has received a lot of positive feedback from the schools and students who participated in it. Teachers,
students and parents have indicated that the survey and information provided served as a useful tool by creating awareness
and educating students about youth gambling issues.
The results of this survey from <insert number of schools> schools indicated that the prevalence rate of youth gambling is
the same as shown in studies across North America. Some students responded that they are non-gamblers who gamble occasionally.
This may indicate that some confusion exists about what activities constitute gambling. Students whose answers indicate they
are at risk (15%) or are experiencing problems around gambling (6%) are about the same as shown in other studies.
Those who gamble and those who don't have different perceptions of the dangers. Not surprisingly, non-gamblers see gambling
more negatively, and gamblers focus on the positive outcomes. Both groups believe that some luck is involved in gambling.
Risky behaviours seem to go together; gamblers are more likely to use alcohol, smoke cigarettes or be involved in drug use.
Of those who are experiencing problems around gambling, 80% are male and 20% female. Again, this is consistent with other
studies.
One of the challenges in dealing with youth problem gambling is convincing adolescents to seek help. An interesting finding
in our study showed that all teenagers who admitted to having a gambling problem were told by someone else they had a gambling
problem. This suggests that good communication within the family unit is important, that counsellors have a role to play,
and even the observations of peers can help an individual recognize a gambling problem.
As promised, our research team would like to share with you some of the key findings from our survey. Prevalence rate of teen gambling in the Niagara region:
Frequency of gambling among teens in the past year:
Preferred gambling activities: Preferred gambling activities:
Self-perception of gambling behaviours:
Beliefs about the positive outcomes and negative consequences of gambling:
Occasional gamblers were more likely than non-gamblers to believe that gambling has positive consequences. Temptation to gamble:
Skill versus luck:
Alcohol use, drug use and smoking among teens that gamble:
Clinical measures of teen gambling, according to an adolescent screening tool used to assess level of gambling severity:
This information indicates that there is a need for effective prevention/education and harm reduction interventions that can
possibly serve to protect youth against gambling problems. We plan to use this information to guide the development of such
programs and to ensure that these programs meet the needs of youth in <insert name of region>.
The results of the <insert name of survey> suggest that education about responsible gambling is important, that family plays
a role in developing appropriate attitudes, and that our youth need some protection. They also need the opportunity to develop
their own defences against the possibility of developing gambling problems.
If you have any questions about the results of this study please contact <insert name of contact person>. A 20-page descriptive
report of this research is available for your review at the office of your child(ren)'s school or you can download this report
from our Web site at <insert Web address>.
Thank you again for your allowing your child(ren) to participate in this research project. Sincerely, 1.0 Initial Findings 1.1 Who was surveyed? A total of 2,252 students (1,067 or 47.8% were girls and 1,163 or 52.2% were boys) from nine high schools in the Niagara Region
completed surveys for this study. The remaining 22 students did not indicate their gender. Students came from all grades,
and their average age was 15.4 years.
Most of these students engaged in after-school activities, only 10% reported doing nothing after school. Sports, clubs or
work were the most common after-school activities. The majority of students indicated that their school grades were good,
and three-quarters of all students said their overall average exceeded 70%.
1.2 What is gambling? The cover page of the survey offered students this definition of gambling: “Gambling is betting money, or anything of value
on activities such as Sports Select/Pro-Line, lottery tickets, scratch tickets, slot machines, poker machines, card games,
dice games, sports pools, games of skill (like pool or darts), arcade and video games and Internet betting games.”
1.3 Who has gambled? Text Box: Think of the grade you were in when you first gambled. How old were you? __________ years old I have never gambled. Students were asked when, if ever, they had first gambled. In response to this question, about one-quarter (28%) said they
had never gambled. Among the 72% who had gambled, most started gambling between the ages of 8 and 12, the average age was
10. Similarly, when asked how often they had gambled in the past year, about one-quarter (25.2%) said they had not gambled
at all. Nearly one-third (31.4%) said they had gambled a few times in total. Almost one-quarter (22.5%) gambled at least once
a month, 9.2% gambled at least once a week and 1.7% gambled every day.
1.4 How do teens gamble? The students were given a list of 16 gambling or betting activities and asked to check all the activities they had done in
the past year. Figure 1 (below) shows the different types of gambling activities that students engaged in.
1.5 1.6 Self-perceptions of gambling To determine how teens perceived their own gambling behaviours, we asked them to describe their gambling according to one
of five categories, as shown in Table 1 (below).
1.7 As Table 1 shows, about one-quarter of teens label themselves as non-gamblers who never gamble. This is consistent with earlier responses
also showing that one-quarter of teens had not gambled in the past year, if ever. On the other hand, nearly half of all students
describe themselves as “non-gamblers who gamble sometimes.” These students may be purchasing lottery tickets, playing cards
for money, participating in sports pools or engaging in other types of betting activities without realizing that they're gambling.
Some of these teens will progress to more serious, potentially problematic levels of gambling.
2.0 Comparing non-gamblers, occasional gamblers and gamblers Students were grouped based on their gambling frequency and perceived gambling status. Non-gamblers were students who indicated
they had not gambled in the past year, and who saw themselves as non-gamblers who never gamble. Occasional gamblers included
students who gambled, but not regularly. Gamblers were students who reported gambling at least once a month, and who saw themselves
as occasional, regular or problem gamblers.
The three groups of gamblers were compared in terms of their attitudes toward gambling, temptations to gamble and beliefs
about the involvement of skill and luck in gambling. These comparisons are presented in Figures 2 and 3 (below).
2.1 2.2 Gamblers were more likely than occasional gamblers to believe that gambling has positive outcomes, and occasional gamblers
were more likely than non-gamblers to believe that gambling has positive outcomes. Non-gamblers saw more negative consequences
than either gamblers or occasional gamblers.
Compared to the other two groups, gamblers felt more tempted to gamble under both positive circumstances (e.g., when feeling
good or socializing) and negative circumstances (e.g., when feeling stressed, after already losing money). On a four-point
scale with 1 representing “not at all tempted” and 4 representing “very tempted,” gamblers' scores for positive circumstances
ranged from 2.4 to 2.8, while occasional and non-gamblers' scores ranged from 1.2 to 1.7. The single exception was that occasional
gamblers scored 2.1 for wanting to gamble when feeling lucky. For negative circumstances, gamblers' scores ranged from 1.5
to 2.1, while the other two groups had scores of 1.2 to 1.7.
How much skill is needed to be a good gambler? none D 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 D a lot Students were asked to rate how much skill is needed to be a good gambler. Gamblers felt that some skill was needed; on average
they chose a 4.0 score. Non-gamblers and occasional gamblers, on the other hand, believed less skill was needed; on average
they chose 3.1 and 3.2, respectively. Surprisingly, all three groups agreed that a little bit of luck is needed to be a good
gambler. On average, for this attribute, they all chose close to 4.6.
2.3 Risky behaviours among non-gamblers, occasional gamblers and gamblers In adolescence, teens often engage in risk-taking behaviours. Furthermore, risky behaviours tend to encourage other high-risk
behaviours. As shown in the following table, drinking, drug use and smoking are often associated with gambling.
2.4 3.0 Youth problem gambling In addition to using self-reporting ‘to identify students’ level of gambling, this study also used a classification measuring
system called the South Oaks Gambling Scale-Revised for Adolescents (SOGS-RA). This measure classifies adolescents into three
categories: (1) gamblers with no problems; (2) gamblers at risk of having problems; and (3) problem gamblers.
The SOGS-RA is commonly used by clinicians to determine an adolescent's level of gambling severity. Teens who answer yes to
at least five of the 11 SOGS-RA statements are classified as gambling at a problematic level (meaning that their gambling
has caused social, emotional or financial problems for them). Figure 4 (below) illustrates the percentage of teens who answered yes to each of the 11 SOGS-RA questions.
These findings illustrate that boys scored considerably higher than girls on every SOGS-RA question, and 6% of students are
already gambling at problematic levels. Of these teens, who were identified as gambling at problematic levels, 20% were girls
and 80% were boys.
3.1 Most teens classified by the SOGS-RA as gambling problematically underestimate the severity of their gambling This study examined whether teens classified as problem gamblers by the SOGS-RA perceived themselves as problem gamblers.
Among teens classified as problem gamblers, only 14% recognized that they were gambling at problematic levels, 5% saw themselves
as non-gamblers who never gamble, 13% saw themselves as non-gamblers who gamble sometimes, 28% saw themselves as occasional
gamblers and 33% saw themselves as gamblers. Thus, teens that are considered to be gambling at problematic levels are more
likely to perceive themselves as gamblers rather than problem gamblers.
3.2 Differences between teens who recognize the severity of their gambling and those who do not Characteristics of teens who did and did not accurately identify their problematic gambling were examined. Teens who accurately
perceived their problematic gambling reported significantly higher rates of involvement in many gambling activities (see Figure 5). Many teens failed to recognize their problems. The average age for problematic gambling, which was identified by the SOGS-RA,
was 15.
3.3 3.4 In addition, teens who accurately identified themselves reported more alcohol and drug use and less involvement in after-school
activities (e.g., work, sports, clubs, etc.) in comparison to their counterparts. These teens also reported gambling at an
earlier age and placing larger bets when gambling. Table 3 (below) outlines these differences in more detail.
3.5 It was thought that the teens who accurately identified themselves might have higher scores on the SOGS-RA in comparison to
the teens that did not accurately self-identify, assuming that the former group may have an increased awareness of their gambling
severity. Indeed, those teens who accurately self-identified scored (on average) 8/11 on the SOGS-RA while those teens who
did not scored (on average) 6/11. A score of five or more (answering yes to five or more questions) out of 11 indicates problematic
gambling. Figure 6 illustrates these differences by identifying specific questions from the SOGS-RA which these two groups differed significantly.
3.6 While all of these differences remain limited by the small number of teens who gamble at problem levels (120 students), the
significant differences that have been reported by accurate self-identifiers (e.g., placing large bets, engaging in a multitude
of gambling activities, gambling at an early age, feeling bad about their gambling) may be contributing factors in their greater
level of awareness, compared to teens that did not accurately self-identify.
3.7 Do teens who gamble problematically want to quit or reduce their gambling? While it may appear that the students who accurately self-identify have a greater awareness of their problem in comparison
to those who did not accurately self-identify, no differences were found in their responses to the question “Do you plan to
stop gambling in the next six months?” Twelve per cent of teens who accurately identified themselves as problem gamblers indicated
that they wanted to quit in the next six months, while 15% of teens that did not accurately identify themselves as problem
gamblers indicated that they wanted to quit. When asked “Do you want to reduce your gambling in the next six months?” none
of the teens who accurately identified themselves wanted to reduce their gambling, while some (21%) teens who did not accurately
self-identify indicated that they wanted to reduce their gambling in the next six months.
4.0 Conclusions This study provides preliminary data on patterns of gambling behaviour in teens along a continuum from experimental to problem
gambling. The current research examines the types of gambling activities teens participate in, the pros and cons teens associate
with gambling, how tempted teens are to gamble, risky behaviours associated with gambling and how teens perceive their own
gambling behaviours. In addition, individual differences were examined among teens who classified themselves as problem gamblers.
It is our intent that findings from this study will be used to guide the development of youth gambling prevention, education
and treatment interventions.
In terms of teens' gambling behaviours, this survey revealed that a large percentage of teens (72%) in the Niagara Region
do gamble. The range of gambling activities was broad-based and showed high participation rates in lottery tickets, instant-win
tickets, raffles and games of skill, such as card games, sports betting and betting money on games of pool or darts. Most
research thus far has also found high rates of youth participation in these gambling activities (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998; Jacobs, 2000). In this study, the top four gambling activities that boys participated in were scratch tickets, betting on sports teams,
raffles and playing games of skill for money. The top four gambling activities that girls participated in were scratch tickets,
raffles, break-open tickets and bingo. Past research that has examined gambling preferences among youth has consistently found
that boys prefer games of skill and girls prefer games of luck (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998; Jacobs, 2000).
A majority (72%) of the teens in this study indicated that they gambled in the past year; however, most of them labelled themselves
as non-gamblers who gamble sometimes. Very few teens perceived themselves as occasional gamblers, regular gamblers or problem
gamblers. This is not surprising given the fact that people often identify themselves with labels that differ from the way
they behave (Tagliacozzo, 1979). For example, how many cigarettes would it take to call yourself a smoker? It is possible that teens may perceive themselves
as non-gamblers who gamble sometimes because they participate in only a few gambling activities or because they do not consider
what they do as gambling. In fact, results from this study show that teens who perceived themselves as non-gamblers who gamble
sometimes participated in fewer gambling activities than teens who perceived themselves as occasional, regular or problem
gamblers. Past research has suggested that activities such as instant-win tickets may not be viewed as gambling because they
are easily accessible, often based on childhood games (such as Monopoly or Battleship), easy for underage youth to purchase
illegally and often given to teens by well-intentioned family members (Korn & Shaffer, 1999). It is important to keep in mind that the activity of gambling in itself does not necessarily lead to a gambling problem.
However, these findings further exemplify the need to develop prevention and education materials that will create more public
awareness and allow youth and their families to make healthy decisions about their gambling behaviours.
Another dimension of this study examined teens' beliefs about the positive and negative consequences of gambling as well as
their temptation to gamble. These factors were examined along a continuum of non-gambling, occasional gambling and gambling.
Teens were grouped into these categories based on their reported gambling frequency and perceived gambling status. Findings
showed that gamblers were more tempted to gamble and more likely to associate positive consequences with gambling in comparison
to teens in the remaining categories.
Future research is needed to determine whether these beliefs lead teens to gamble more or if gambling frequently leads to
adopting these beliefs. Some researchers have suggested that a teen's first big win can lead to several cognitive distortions
regarding the odds of winning and the positive outcomes of gambling (Stinchfield & Winters, 1998). Moreover, it is reasonable to expect that some teens may attribute more positive consequences than negative consequences
to gambling since the costs of gambling for teens are very different than those for adults. Unlike their adult counterparts,
teens do not often have a job or spouse to lose nor do they incur such large debts. Together, these findings emphasize the
value in educating teens about the odds of winning and the negative consequences associated with problem gambling. Prevention
programs that are aimed at teaching teens the definition of gambling, the odds of winning at gambling and the problems that
arise from problematic gambling may help teens to make healthier, more informed choices, and in turn, reduce the harm associated
with youth gambling.
The examination of risky behaviours and gambling was emphasized in this study. Overall, findings indicate that risky behaviours
tend to cluster; teens who were categorized as gamblers (based on frequency of gambling and self-perceived gambling status)
reported more alcohol use, drug use and cigarette use in comparison to their counterparts. When examining the percentage of
teens who reported using alcohol and drugs three to seven times a week, differences between groups (non-gamblers, occasional
gamblers and gamblers) were greatly magnified in comparison to group differences where substance use was less frequent. These
results indicate that substance abuse and gambling problems are closely related.
Many other studies have also found that rates of alcohol, drug and cigarette use tend to be highest among teens with moderate
and severe gambling problems compared to non-gamblers or at-risk gamblers (Griffiths & Sutherland, 1998; Ladouceur, Dube & Bujold, 1994; Vitaro, Ferland, Jacques & Ladouceur, 1998). Previous studies have shown that gambling and substance use are linked in a network of other youthful problem behaviours
(e.g., delinquency) (Proimos, Durant, Pierce & Goodman, 1998). It is evident that further research is needed to better understand the relationship between gambling and substance use
among adolescents. More research can help determine whether gambling increases substance use, substance use increases gambling
or other factors influence both of these patterns. Although more comprehensive research is needed, these preliminary findings
have potentially important implications for the design of interventions aimed at preventing or treating problem gambling in
teens. For example, these results highlight the need to screen adolescents seeking treatment for alcohol and drug problems
for gambling problems and to screen adolescents seeking gambling treatment for alcohol and drug problems.
This study also examines the prevalence of problem gambling in this sample of teens. Students completed a survey measure,
called the SOGS-RA, which is used by clinicians to determine an adolescent's level of gambling severity. Using the SOGS-RA,
six per cent of teens from this study were identified as gambling at problematic levels. Comparisons were made to determine
if teens who were classified as problem gamblers according to the SOGS-RA also identified themselves as problem gamblers.
Results showed that the majority of teens who were identified as gambling at problematic levels (by the SOGS-RA) perceived
themselves as regular gamblers, and only 14% of them perceived themselves as problem gamblers. Individual differences between
teens who did perceive themselves as problem gamblers and teens who did not perceive themselves as problem gamblers were examined.
Many interesting results were found. For example, teens who did perceive themselves as problem gamblers reported higher rates
of involvement in many gambling activities, gambled at an earlier age, placed larger bets, indicated higher rates of substance
use and were less involved in school activities than their counterparts. Of interest, all 14% of teens who perceived themselves
as problem gamblers reported that others told them they had a gambling problem. Given these findings, it is possible that
the combination of the above factors (e.g., being told they have a problem, placing large bets, etc.) may be responsible for
the increased awareness that these teens have about their gambling behaviours. Thus, developing interventions that allow teens
the opportunity to examine these different factors (or life areas) may raise awareness and assist teens in evaluating their
gambling behaviours.
Surprisingly, teens that did not self-identify accurately as problem gamblers expressed more of an interest in reducing or
quitting their gambling in comparison to their counterparts. A larger sample of problem gamblers is needed to further explore
these results. These findings may explain the low percentage of teens who seek treatment for their gambling problems. Perhaps
those teens who recognize they are gambling problematically do not want to change. Further research is needed in this area.
It is important to note that this study also asked teens “If you think you have a gambling problem why don't you seek help
to reduce your gambling?” Few teens answered this question; therefore the results are not representative. Future studies that
attempt to examine if problem gamblers want to quit or reduce their gambling and whether or not teens want to seek treatment
is important as it will help guide the development of effective interventions.
The present study attempts to better understand adolescents' patterns of gambling behaviour from experimental to problem gambling.
Findings from this research can be used as baseline data that can guide further research aimed at developing effective education/prevention
and treatment interventions that meet the needs of youth. The authors acknowledge that more comprehensive research needs to
be carried out to further explore adolescent gambling and effective strategies that can be used to develop youth gambling
interventions. While data from this study is preliminary, further analyses will be conducted and published in the form of
a monograph at a later date. It is predicted that the findings from this study in combination with findings from future studies
will be helpful in guiding the development of interventions aimed at preventing or reducing youth gambling problems.
If you have any questions concerning the findings that are outlined in this report, or if you are interested in further results,
please contact Ms. Jennifer McPhee, Project Manager of the Youth Gambling Research Initiative, by phone at (905) 688-5550,
ext. 4566 or by e-mail at jmcphee@arnie.pec.brocku.ca.
If you are interested in learning more about the issues around youth gambling, please refer to any of the following Web sites
or the references cited at the end of this report.
Youth Gambling Web sites: www.education.mcgill.ca/gambling Free, confidential counselling services are available for persons with gambling problems at the N.A.D.A.S. Problem Gambling
Program located in St. Catharines, Ontario. Please call (905) 684-1183 to arrange for an appointment. Free telephone counselling
is also available at the Problem Gambling Hotline (24-hour service) at (905) 684-1859.
Copyright © 2020 | Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Journal Information
Journal ID (publisher-id): jgi
ISSN: 1910-7595
Publisher: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Article Information
© 1999-2003 The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Publication date: December 2002
Publisher Id: jgi.2002.7.10
DOI: 10.4309/jgi.2002.7.10
Appendices to Understanding the school culture
5.0 References
Griffiths, M.. Sutherland, I.. ( 1998). Adolescent gambling and drug use. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 8, 423-427.
Gupta, R.. Derevensky, J.L.. ( 1998). Adolescent gambling behavior: A prevalence study and examination of the correlates with problem gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 14 (4), 319-345.
Jacobs, D.F.. ( 2000). Juvenile gambling in North America: An analysis of long-term trends and future prospects. Journal of Gambling Studies, 16, 119-149.
Korn, D.. Shaffer, H.J.. ( 1999). Gambling and the health of the public: Adopting a public health perspective. Journal of Gambling Studies, 15, 289-365.
Ladouceur, R.. Dube, D.. Bujold, A.. ( 1994). Prevalence of pathological gamblers and related problems among college students in the Quebec metropolitan areas. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 39, 289-293.
Proimos, J.. DuRant, R.H.. Pierce, J.D.. Goodman, E.. ( 1998). Gambling and other risk behaviors among 8th-12th grade students. Pediatrics, 102, 1-6.
Stinchfield, R.. Winters, K.C.. ( 1998). Gambling and problem gambling among youth. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences, 556, 172-185.
Tagliacozzo, R.. ( 1979). Smokers' self-categorization and the reduction of cognitive dissonance. Addictive Behaviors, 4, 393-399.
Vitaro, F.. Ferland, F.. Jacques, C.. Ladouceur, R.. ( 1998). Gambling, substance use, and impulsivity during adolescence. Journal of Addictive Behaviors, 12, 185-194.
Figures
Tables
Article Categories:
Editor-in-chief: Nigel E. Turner, Ph.D.
Managing Editor: Vivien Rekkas, Ph.D. (contact)
Appendix A
Sample information package for principals
Letter to principal
Information sheet on youth gambling
School survey procedures and protocols
School newsletter and announcement
Letter to parent/guardian
Parent/guardian consent form
Student consent form
Youth gambling survey
Alternative activity: Level I
Alternative activity: Level II
Debriefing form for students
Appendix B
Cover letter to principals
Feedback to the youth gambling research team Evaluation form
Comprehensive Report for Principals
Executive summary
Survey responses
Appendix C
Letter to parent/guardian
Survey responses
Summary
Executive summary