Youth | Page 2 | Stop Predatory Gambling

Study finds that disadvantaged youth may be more likely to become problem gamblers

Investigative Journalism, Lotteries, Lowering the Standard of Living for Ordinary Citizens, Online Gambling, Public Health, Regional Casinos, Sports Betting, Studies, Youth

This article from The Baltimore Sun summarizes the findings of a new study from Johns Hopkins University that concluded that disadvantaged youth have a higher propensity to become problem gamblers, due in part to their increased level of participation in betting on dice in the streets or betting on sports games, which serves as a gateway to more serious, problem gambling when they are allowed in a casino. These discoveries come on the heels of an increased casino and gambling presence in Maryland, where the study took place.

Disadvantaged urban youth may be more likely to be problem gamblers

Link found between problem gambling and family violence

Lotteries, Online Gambling, Public Health, Regional Casinos, Sports Betting, Studies, Women, Youth

A new study by the Problem Gambling Research and Treatment Centre at the University of Melbourne, Australia shows a strong link between problem gambling and familial violence. Fifty-three percent of problem gamblers reported some form of family violence in the past 12 months and Forty-four percent reported victimization in the home. These disturbing numbers show yet another effect of problem gambling, and shows further why more commercialized gambling isn’t a good thing. This HealthCanal study summarizes the study’s findings.

Problem gambling and family violence strongly linked says new study

Why adolescents are biologically more susceptible to problem gambling

Lotteries, Online Gambling, Public Health, Regional Casinos, Sports Betting, Studies, Youth

This study, from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows a biological breakdown of how adolescents’ brains make them more likely to be problem gamblers. This is because the brain of an adolescent places a greater value on rewards than does that of an adult, a developmental effect that causes more adventurous risk-taking in adolescents, which can lead to problem gambling. This thorough study explains the science behind why kids shouldn’t gamble.

2014 Neural representation of expected value in the adolescent brain

College students and problem gambling

Lotteries, Online Gambling, Public Health, Regional Casinos, Sports Betting, Studies, Youth

This study, made for the Iowa Department of Public Health, examined the relationship between college students and problem gambling. After using both qualitative and quantitative data, the study concluded that almost 70% of college students gambled in the past year, and about one in ten met at least DSM-IV criterion for potential problem or pathological gambling, a disturbing figure that presents real concerns for America’s future. Below is a copy of the study, which is detailed and informative, and sheds light on the future of American problem gambling.

2014 Pilot Study of Gambling Attitudes and Behaviors Among Iowa College Students

Regions With Casinos See Increase Sex Trafficking Among Minors

Crime, Investigative Journalism, Lowering the Standard of Living for Ordinary Citizens, Regional Casinos, Women, Youth

One of the effects of regional casinos is the sex trafficking of minors. This atrocity is garnering more and more attention nationwide as the number of children affected increases.

Increase in sex trafficking of minors getting local, state attention

Facebook online casinos entice young people to gamble

Investigative Journalism, Lotteries, Online Gambling, Predatory Business Practices, Public Health, Regional Casinos, Sports Betting, Youth

The UK’s MailOnline reports online gambling giant 888 has struck a lucrative deal with Facebook to offer Las Vegas-style slot machines and other games funded by credit and debit card transactions up to £500 (roughly US $761). Facebook and its gambling partners have been training youth with slot and bingo-style games. The Mail quotes Mark Griffiths, professor of gambling studies at Nottingham Trent University citing research showing that playing free games online is a big factor in developing problem gambling. He warned the new apps will open the floodgates as “gambling companies dive into the social media frenzy to make money. It is thought Facebook will take a 30 percent cut of all bets placed.”

These free games are available to US customers as well. Online game giant Zynga for months has featured intrusive popups and ads pushing their slots and poker games in their ubiquitous “Words with Friends” blockbuster game.

Social network is tempting young to gamble with new betting games

Exploiting the Neuroscience of Internet Addiction

Investigative Journalism, Lotteries, Online Gambling, Predatory Business Practices, Youth

In this article the relationship between neuroscience and internet gambling is explained. The article delineates how much of what we do online releases dopamine into the brain’s pleasure centers, resulting in obsessive pleasure-seeking behavior. Technology companies face the option to exploit our addictions for profit.

Exploiting the Neuroscience of Internet Addiction

Louisiana State Government Has a Self-Inflicted Epidemic of Gambling Addiction

Lotteries, Lowering the Standard of Living for Ordinary Citizens, Public Health, Regional Casinos, Studies, Youth

According to the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling, about 4.4 percent of adults over 21 in Louisiana, or as many as 159,000 people, demonstrate problematic or pathological gambling. The problem is even worse among young adults. About 14.3 percent of adults between 18 and 21 have problematic or pathological gambling issues. That’s as many as 23,000 people.

Thousands treated annually for addiction

Facebook ‘creating a generation of gambling addicts because of site’s Las Vegas style games’

Investigative Journalism, Lotteries, Online Gambling, Predatory Business Practices, Public Health, Youth

Facebook has been accused of turning youngsters into gambling addicts with an explosion of Las Vegas-style casino games on the social networking site. Children are using ‘virtual coins’ to simulate the thrill of hitting the jackpot with slot machine and roulette games on their home computers and mobile phones. Zynga, which accounts for 12 per cent of all Facebook’s revenues due to its popular games such as FarmVille, launched Zynga Slots in the UK last month. Although these games are free, addiction experts have warned the games encourage teenagers to think gambling is harmless fun.

Facebook ‘creating a generation of gambling addicts because of site’s Las Vegas style games’

Frequent video gamers have brain differences, study finds

Lotteries, Online Gambling, Public Health, Sports Betting, Studies, Youth

Young teens who were frequent video gamers had more gray matter in the rewards center of the brain than peers who didn’t play video games as much — suggesting that gaming may be correlated to changes in the brain as much as addictions are. This characteristic is precisely why casino owners are aiming to promote internet gambling and target those who are already prone to addiction.

Frequent gamers have brain differences study finds