Youth Gambling Prevention YMCA of Southwestern Ontario

They typically made use of debates, presentations, testimonials, and video projections, among others. In this regard, a number of studies 47,57 reported the use of audiovisual aids to be conducive to attracting the attention of younger population groups, increasing the effects of interventions and, consequently, preventing and/or reducing gambling activity. Special mention should be made of the study by Ren, Moberg, and Scuffham (2019) 43, which offered activities that involved families, an essential point for preventing and dealing with gambling-related problems.

More longitudinal and evidence-based studies are required that are designed on a solid theoretical base, with recruitment for and implementation of programs in settings other than education. In addition, more studies should be conducted in Europe and Spain, particularly among young adults. There is still a great deal of work to be done, particularly with regard to prevention, which is only now beginning to gain attention.

Signs of Problem Gambling in Youth

Two reviewers (A.M.-B. and E.A.) conducted such a quality assessment of the included studies, and disagreements were resolved through discussion between the researchers and in consultation with a third author (Y.L.-H.). The quality assessment is provided in the Supplementary Materials (Tables S1 and S2) along with a link to the assessment tools and their items. In the UKGC’s 2024 report, 26% of young people have seen family members who gamble. GamCare advises parents to help their children develop a healthy understanding of gambling and talk to them while they’re young. Youth will discover how to recognize gambling risks in everyday situations, from video games to real life, and learn how to protect themselves. A systematic review of quantitative studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies, was conducted.

Resources for Educators and Professionals

Another interesting find is that of the 26% of those who have seen family members gamble, 12% claim it helped their family earn money. Most respondents found gambling fun, but only 8% were prompted to gamble by advertisements. However, a concerning 11% took money without asking, and 3% would lie about gambling. Youth can dive into hands-on challenges that make learning fun and interactive. Youth need to understand and know their choices before facing risky situations.

Support Your Local Youth

Many other organizations, like the Gambling with Lives charity, also have their own online gambling education initiatives. For example, the charity works with Declan Cregan, who had an addiction when he was 17, to host presentations and talk to students. Meanwhile, Ygam provides programs where teachers and parents can learn about gambling and how to support young people. Responsible gambling programs for young people have had great success and significantly help reduce problem gambling among youths. Aside from educating students on problem gambling, they also provide gambling education resources to parents and professionals, ensuring children can receive proper support. Finally, they also work directly with the government when preparing new legislation.

This systematic review was implemented in accordance with the standards of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines 31,32. The Youth Advisory Board was consulted three times on these reforms, allowing young people to provide insight on better protecting them from youth gambling addiction. https://gameaviatorofficial.com/ Citizens in Northern Ireland have also expressed a desire for better laws, with Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan even claiming it’s out of date and that problem gambling affects entire communities.

All of the information featured in these reference kits draws upon years of research and expertise in the area of youth gambling problems. Jeffrey Derevensky and Rina Gupta, co-directors of the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors, appear in both videos. Finally, it is important to note the age of the studies, such as that conducted in 1993 by Gaboury and Ladouceur 46, and their variability in terms of the interest generated by these types of study, with different periods of higher and lower numbers published (see Figure 2).

• Youth will discover how to recognize gambling risks in everyday situations, from video games to real life, and learn how to protect themselves.
• Aside from educating students on problem gambling, they also provide gambling education resources to parents and professionals, ensuring children can receive proper support.
• A systematic review of quantitative studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies, was conducted.

Whether it’s completing a challenge, learning new skills, or contributing to their community, YHTP is packed with activities in a secure, identity-protected environment. To promote community awareness and involvement in issues related to youth gambling, we partner with various community organizations. We collaborate to plan and implement events, which are included at each of the YGAP sites. An accompanying manual is offered for counsellors who want to use the video as a more in-depth prevention tool. Many questions are included in order to stimulate discussion with participants, as well as information about youth gambling.

The YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program is a free service offering educational prevention programs designed to raise awareness of youth gambling, healthy/active living and making informed decisions. Together with the Government of Ontario, the YMCA believes educational awareness programs are essential to enhancing personal development and creating healthier communities. The Amazing Château (Level I) and Hooked City (Level II) are interactive games developed by the Centre and available on CD-ROM. Hooked City was designed to address the needs and interests of high school students. Released in November 2004, and distributed to every private and public, elementary and high school in Quebec, these games aim to reduce problem gambling among teenagers, and promote responsible gambling.

The players‘ performance is encouraged by the loss or gain of clues that are used to free Tom. Players from two teams compete against each other, in a race to answer the questions correctly. Questions require thought, logic and creativity rather than an extensive knowledge base. The element of team play introduces social interaction and cooperation within teams and a friendly element of competition between teams.