Programs & Services

YMCA Youth Gambling Program

For Your Information

• Studies of gambling show that adolescents report significantly higher rates of problem gambling than adults;
• Problem gamblers are significantly more likely to start gambling earlier in life than non-problem gamblers;
• Previous findings have shown that gambling patterns begin as early as 8 years of age and can be established before an adolescent reaches high school;
• Research shows that youth are less likely to get involved in addiction, polyaddictions or criminalized behaviors if their coping strategies are enhanced. Our presentation focuses on developing assets.

Signs of Problem Gambling

• Loss of interest in other activities
• Being argumentative
• Feeling irritable and restless
• Feeling anxious, depressed and/or suicidal
• Increased spending/chasing losses
• Increased alcohol or drug use
• Lying, stealing
• Promising to stop but continuing to gamble
• Money appearing and disappearing