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Gambling, the act of risking property, money or something else of value on some activity with an uncertain outcome may seem harmless enough, but the frightening truth is that it is on the rise among teens nationally and locally. Scary consequences seem remote, but may include such things as derailed educations and careers, financial burdens, criminal activities, and development of other addictions. Gambling seems rather commonplace in our society, so much so that some charities, non-profit agencies, churches and even our own State government use it to raise funds. The message that gambling is innocent, harmless and just another form of recreation bombards children of all ages every day. One of the ways children learn is by imitation as millions of youth witness their own parents’ gambling behaviors. Just like other addictions, adolescents progress from social to problem gamblers very quickly. Dr. Durand Jacobs, psychologist and past Vice President of the National Council on Problem Gambling feels that “little will change until society begins to view teenage gambling with the same alarm directed at drugs and alcohol.”
OASAS is the NYS agency principally responsible for the prevention not only of substance abuse, but of gambling as well. In fall of 2008, Cortland Area Communities That Care collaborated with OASAS and administered the NYS Youth Development Survey to 1,948 County 7-12 grade students in the five school districts. A summary of the 2008 survey report contained, for the first time ever, results for gambling behaviors in general and 15 specific gambling activities.
All gambling activities tended to increase in frequency as students progressed from seventh through twelfth grade. The pattern of Cortland County teens gambling at a higher rate than students state-wide held true for all grade levels.
Cortland County eleventh and twelfth graders played bingo more often for money (15.2%) compared to the state-wide student sample (12.4%). Local eleventh and twelfth graders also exceeded state-wide students in betting money on raffles or charity games (21.2% vs. 20.8%) and betting or spending money on pull tabs (6.8% vs. 6.3%).
There were two specific gambling activities where the County students’ gambling percentages were worse than the State at all grade levels. The first is in playing “Quick Draw.” The combined 7-12 County percentage (9.9%) exceeded the NYS students’ combined score (8.2%). About 1 out of 10 County students (9.9 %) reported playing.
The second activity where the County 7-12 students’ combined percentage (32.4%) exceeded the NYS students’ combined scores (29.9%), as well as the percentages at all individual grade levels, was playing the lottery, lotto, or scratch off. Approximately 1/3 of local students surveyed reported this behavior.
Overall, the most common gambling activities for local 7-12 students, in order from most to least common, are: 1) playing the lottery, lotto or scratch off (32.4%); 2) betting money on raffles or charity games (20.4%); and 3) playing cards for money (20.2%); 4) betting money on sports (17.6%); 5) playing pool, basketball, etc. for money (15.8%); 6) playing bingo for money (13.9%); and 7) betting money on arcade or video games (10.2%).
Local students also reported playing cards for money; playing pool, basketball. for money; betting on sports; playing dice games for money; playing the numbers or “Bolita”; betting money on arcade or video games; betting on slots, poker machines; betting money at a casino; betting money over the internet; and betting on horses, dogs, or other animals.
Local data, as limited as it is, seems to indicate that Cortland County youth may be cultivating a gambling problem. Anyone want to bet?
Jeanette Dippo is a CACTC Board member. She is a retired health teacher and department chair from Cortland City Schools. She is now ad adjunct instructor in Health at SUNY Cortland.
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