Winter 1996/1997
In order to better understand the nature and extent of gambling and subsequent problems caused by gambling among Minnesota youth, the Minnesota Institute of Public Health (MIPH) has reviewed incidence and prevalence data available from a variety of sources.
MIPH also conducted 15 structured key informant interviews with educators and youth workers throughout the state and 15 informal open-ended interviews with parents and others who work with youth ages 12 - 18 years.
• The most common forms of gambling by youth 12 - 18 years of age are playing cards for money and informal betting with friends.
• Young males gamble more frequently than young females.
• Some forms of gambling activity among youth in grades 9 and 12 have declined since 1992.
• Students who have a parent with a gambling problem report more frequent gambling.
• Serious problems can evolve for younger children who are neglected when one or both parents gamble.
• Gambling risk behavior is consistently associated with other risky behavior such as drug use, juvenile delinquency and family problems.
• Gambling activity seems to peak in the 18 - 21 year old age group.
• Gambling at a casino on one's 18th birthday is becoming a new rite of passage for many youth.
• While 53% of parents report having read or heard about problems associated with gambling among children, only 9% report being very concerned about gambling by their children.
• Nearly 12% of college students surveyed on two Minnesota campuses in 1995 report weekly or daily gambling.
• Casino slot machines and the lottery are the most common forms of legal gambling among college students in Minnesota.
Comparisons between the 1992 and 1995 Minnesota Student Survey data appear to indicate that negative consequences related to gambling have remained steady while the amount of gambling activity by youth has declined somewhat. (Chart 1) However, it is important to note that because the Minnesota Student Survey does not include questions about gambling in casinos, these data do not reflect casino gambling by young people.
Interviews with parents of adolescents and professionals who work with youth and discussions with young people themselves suggest that casino gambling has become a significant form of recreation for Minnesota's 18 year old high school seniors. Some professionals also believe that slightly younger youth are periodically gaining admission to casinos despite being underage for legal entrance. It is also evident that casino gambling is a common activity for young people ages 18 - 21 years old.
Changes in youthful gambling activity and problems related to gambling will need to be monitored closely in order to design and implement services that are appropriate and responsive to the needs of Minnesota youth, their parents, schools, and communities.
Efforts to help young people make informed, low-risk choices about whether, when and how much to gamble are very important in order to reduce the likelihood that young people will develop serious gambling problems. Concurrent efforts to help youth experiencing problems as a result of their own gambling or their parents' gambling also need to be implemented. Professionals who work with young people, as well as parents, will benefit from opportunities to learn more about the prevention of gambling problems and resources available to respond to youth who are experiencing negative consequences of gambling. For a copy of the full report, contact the Minnesota Compulsive Gambling Hotline at:
1-800-437-3641.
