18 to 24 year olds twice as likely to develop problem
Nov 05, 2008 - 10:34 AM
By Keith Gilligan
DURHAM -- The Responsible Gambling Council wants Durham College students to know test scores aren't the only important numbers.
Representatives from the RGC are at Durham College to raise awareness of gambling-related problems. Know the Score tries to dispel myths around gambling, said Amanda Stokes, a project co-ordinator with the RGC, adding the aim is to "educate students about the risks of gambling."
Students passing an information booth were asked to answer a five-question quiz on gambling, with the possibility of winning a $1,500 scholarship.
The council doesn't have statistics on the number of students with a gambling problem, but Ms. Stokes said youths 18 to 24 years of age have the highest rate of gambling addiction. "We can find those 18 to 24 on the campus."
Ironically, the information booth was set up outside the Financial Aid and Awards office.
Ms. Stokes said about "6.9 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds have a moderate to severe gambling problem. It's more than double the provincial average," adding in the population as a whole, the rate is 3.4 per cent.
"A lot say they don't gamble, but they play Pro-Line on Sunday on football. It's a small investment, but it's gambling. They've never thought of it as gambling. People think of online poker and casinos as the only way to gamble," she said. "Most say they don't gamble or they don't know anything about gambling."
Council staff will be visiting 30 post-secondary institutions over the course of the school year to raise awareness.
The first question on the quiz is 'Playing poker online is a good way to make money? True or False.'
"If they answer true, we talk to them about that," Ms. Stokes said. "We get quite a bit of positive feedback.
"The questions on the quiz are designed to give information, like what's the name of the local treatment centre," Ms. Stokes said. "We make them think about it. If they don't know, we can give it to them."
Having an interactive element is "better than if they were just reading a board."
The biggest myth is "online poker is a good way to make money. They think it's a good way to fund their school."
Pete Hancox, a professional golf management student, said the kiosk is in a busy location, which is good as it will "get students' attention."
He had a roommate last year with a gambling problem, Mr. Hancox said. "He lost a lot of money with online gambling. He didn't come out with us for months."
Samantha Bain, a business administration student, said having the booth is a good idea, "because it may stop us developing gambling problems or other problems."
It's easy for students to fall into the trap of gambling, Ms. Bain said.
"We fall into peer pressure easier," she said. "A lot we see on TV and casinos."
Rebecca Nicholson, a legal assistant student, said the booth will help raise "awareness to people. There are people with gambling problems."
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