Programs & Services
YMCA Youth Gambling Program
FAQs
How is the Youth Gambling Program Funded?
The Ontario Substance Abuse Bureau of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funds the program.
What are the hours of operation?
The program works on flex time. Leave a message for the Youth Outreach Worker in your area and they will call you back.
Will you be targeting the same youth year after year?
Yes. The program has 4 different education and prevention presentations designed to be developmentally appropriate for 4 different age groups (8-10, 11-14, 15-18, and 19-24). Ideally, we would like to present to youth as they advance through each age group, however, the presentations can be used as stand alone components. Research with prevention programs show that long-term programs show significantly greater positive change.
What is gambling?
Any game of chance that involves risking money or something else of value is considered gambling. This includes scratch tickets and playing cards for money. Playing a game of cards and not wagering anything of value is not considered gambling. There is a difference between the game and the gamble. The Youth Gambling Program takes a gambling neutral approach. We don't see gambling as good or bad, simply as a choice that some people choose to engage in.
How do you know if gambling has become a problem?
There is no one answer to this question. There are several warning signs that a person can exhibit when they develop a problem with gambling. The Youth Outreach Worker can provide that information and can also refer people to treatment or counselling centers. Please contact the Youth Outreach Worker in your area for more information.
Are there different categories of "problem gambling"?
There are several stages that people can go through when they are developing a problem with gambling. What we know is that youth pass through the continuum of non-gambling to problem gambling much quicker than adults. However, research in the gambling field is quite new and the specific path to problem gambling has not been defined. This is something that the field is working towards. Please contact the Youth Outreach Worker in your area for updates.
What resources are available for gambling issues in our community?
The Youth Outreach Worker has a list of resources that are available in your community to help people with gambling issues. Please contact them for more information. The Youth Outreach Worker in your area can also connect with other Youth Outreach Workers located throughout the Province.
What is the most common form of gambling among youth?
The forms of gambling that youth participate in are as varied as the types of gambling activities that adults participate in. Some examples of youth gambling are sports betting, bingo, card games, lotteries, etc. The most common forms of gambling among youth usually depend upon the age and gender of the youth. Please contact your Youth Outreach Worker for more information.
Will this program be evaluated?
Yes. It is important that we have measurable outcomes. It is important to note that we are not a research program. We will be asking participants to complete a short questionnaire after each session. We will be measuring respondent's changes in knowledge, attitude and intension to change. The program evaluation will be developed by the Management team in Greater Toronto in collaboration with each of the 17 sites and input from community members. Please ask the Youth Outreach Worker in your area for more information.
Please review our "For Your Information" page.
