- The FSSA Division of Mental Health and Addiction sponsored surveys of people in Indiana ages 12-20 to determine the extent of gaming and betting for money. In July 2005 the Survey Research Center at IUPUI conducted the survey and compiled these reports.
- Every year, The Indiana Prevention Resource Center conducts a statewide survey of approximately 200,000 students (6th – 12th grade) on gambling behaviors and drug use. The gambling findings from this survey are listed here.
- Beginning in the fall of 2006, a problem gambling prevention component was added to Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana, an afterschool substance abuse prevention program targeting youth ages 10-14. The afterschool program is in its 10 th year and reaches over 14,000 Indiana youth annually. The gambling prevention component was added in response to the increasing opportunities for gambling in the state of Indiana.
- While you cant predict which youth will become problem gamblers, you can take into account some risk factors:
- • Being male, older adolescent
- • Household income below median
- • Losing more than $50 per month gambling
- • Early initiation of gambling (before 8th grade)
- • Favorably parental attitude or gambling behavior
- • Problems at home
- • Low self esteem
- • Peer pressure
- • Depression
- • Overly competitive
- Here are a few resources for a more comprehensive list of potential risk factors:
Some key warning signs of problem gambling include:
- • Asking for/borrowing money from family or friends
- • Gambling paraphernalia such as betting sheets
- • Unexplained debts or extra cash/possessions
- • Unexplained time away from home, work, or school
- • Behavior change (seems distracted, worried, etc.)
- • Withdrawal from friends and family
- • Less involvement with usual activities
- • Unusual amount of time spent watching sports or looking up sports scores
- • Intense interest in gambling conversations
- • Playing gambling-type games on the Internet
- • Money or personal items are missing
- • Using words such as “bookie” in conversation
- • Selling personal items
- • Bragging about winning gambling bets
- • Drop in grades
- • Lying, cheating, or stealing in school
Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana
Beginning in the fall of 2006, a problem gambling prevention component was added to Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana, an afterschool substance abuse prevention program targeting youth ages 10-14. The afterschool program is in its 10 th year and reaches over 14,000 Indiana youth annually. The gambling prevention component was added in response to the increasing opportunities for gambling in the state of Indiana.
Presentations:
- Gambling Fact Challenge
- Problem Gambling 101
- Gambling and Youth: 2006/2007 Afternoons R.O.C.K. Gambling Data
- All "Bets" Are Off!
- Kids Don't Gamble... WANNA BET?