Unit 4-01: Wanna Bet? A Look at Teen Gambling

Purpose:
Though gambling is usually thought of as an adult activity, surveys find that teenagers manage to participate in all types of gambling, both regulated and non-regulated. The teens who gamble range from social gamblers to what we now know as disordered gamblers. This workshop will discuss the changing social climate for teen gambling, the motives and attraction that lead teens to gambling activities, and some risk factors and life predictors for gambling problems. Some protective factors will be discussed, as well as some ideas for prevention.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, the participant will:

• Learn about two ways that the environment has changed in regard to teen gambling over the past 15 years.
• Understand and relate at least five motives and four risk factors for teen gambling.
• Discuss at least nine life predictors that may dispose teens ages 12-17 to gambling activities.
• Be able to relate at least four protective factors that help a teen not to gamble or not gamble to the point of negative consequences.

Unit Outline:

• Adolescent attitudes about gambling
• Early life predictors of problem gambling
• Environmental risk factors
• Other risk and protective factors