EVERYTHING
FOR YOUR FAMILY
Teen Years
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The chips are stacked in a neat row, cards are shuffled and dealt, and the pot is brimming. “I’m in,” says one of the players seated around the table. Are these high rollers in Las Vegas or a group of old men with stinky cigars hoping for a royal flush? Not quite. It’s a table of 16-year-olds playing a game of poker in the family den. This scenario is taking place throughout the country as teens and tweens have embraced poker as one of their favorite pastimes. Whether it’s a birthday party, school-sponsored field trip, or post-prom bash, poker seems to be a featured activity. I know, because my 14-year-old son has been invited to several poker parties during the past year. I actually welcomed this new activity, recognizing that my son was willing to tear himself away from computer and video games to spend a night socializing with other boys. But not long after he started attending these parties, I talked to a mom whose highschool son had become so obsessed with poker that it started affecting his schoolwork and made her wonder if he could be addicted to gambling. “For some kids, gambling may lead to problem gambling,” says Keith Whyte, executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. “This is a concern because we’re seeing a glamorization of gambling on TV without any balanced warning or social responsibility messages.” The lure for many teens is that gambling is a fast, fun and easy way to get rich. Or so they think. Many also believe that since it has an element of skill, like video games, the more they play, the better they will become. But as Whyte points out, “Luck, not skill, determines the majority of the outcome, and the longer you play, the more likely you are to lose your money.” According to Whyte, today’s teenagers are the first generation to grow up in an atmosphere where gambling is considered acceptable instead of taboo as in years past. In 1976, less than a dozen states allowed gambling compared to today, where 48 states have made it legal. State lotteries are heavily promoted and many parents themselves gamble. Kids also have greater access to poker and other games through the Internet and television stations such as ESPN and Bravo, which cover poker tournaments. With such an increase in youth gambling, it’s no surprise that the American Psychiatric Association reports that 10-15% of young people have significant gambling problems and that 6% of teens who have tried gambling have become pathological gamblers. That said, there are still plenty of teens who have taken up poker in recent years who play responsibly and are in no way addicted to the activity. Justin Nguyen, a 16-year-old Costa Mesa resident, plays poker a couple times a month with friends and occasionally plays online; he has not let it interfere with his life. “We do it for fun and our bets are always very small,” he says. Justin’s mom, Susan Nguyen, is not worried about her son’s new pastime. She appreciates the social aspect of the game because her son is shy and she also believes it helps strengthen math skills. Despite poker’s current popularity, Nguyen feels that it is just another passing fad, such as Pokemon or paintball, which will be replaced soon with other pursuits. “I wouldn’t be surprised if this phases out within a year or two and the boys will be back to playing video games,” she says. Even though playing poker with a group of friends is both safer than roaming the streets and healthier than playing shoot ’em up video games, some kids will develop an addiction to gambling, which can lead to other destructive behaviors such as alcohol and drug use. Studies have shown that among teens who gamble, 50% are likely to binge-drink, and 75% are likely to smoke marijuana. “Parents should be aware of the signs of addiction,” says Whyte. Carol Daus is a freelance writer who lives in Huntington Beach with her husband and three children. At-risk behaviour For the majority of teens, the latest poker craze is not harmful. However, a small percentage could be labeled problem gamblers. The following indicators could suggest a problem with gambling: • Unexplained absences from school. • Sudden drop in grades. • Changes in personality and behavior. • Large amounts of money in their possession. • Shows an unusual interest in newspapers and magazines having to do with sports, horse racing, etc. • Intense interest in gambling conversations. • Gambling language in their conversation (5-timer, bookie, loan shark, point spread, underdog, favorite, etc.) (A confidential help line for parents and teens is available through the National Council on Problem Gambling at 800.522.4700.) Source: California Council on Problem Gambling |
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