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Copyright © 2006 Statesman Journal
HEADLINE: Poker
sets for kids? Think twice before anteing up
Body:
Has Santa’s workshop moved to Las Vegas?
Get ready for what has become an annual marketing onslaught of
gambling-related toys, books and paraphernalia as we approach
the holiday shopping season. My current favorite example is the
Pink Poker Night “It’s A Chick Thing” Kit, where
for $29.95 you can have “everything a chick needs to host
a fabulous girls’ night in.”
So what’s the fuss? I received this e-mail from a concerned
mother of two: “I want to know how much I should be worrying
about gambling and the health of my kids. They watch poker
tournaments on TV, their friends wear clothing with references
to poker and I heard my son talk about playing
poker with friends ... What is a mother to do?”
She is not alone in wondering about the effects of ongoing exposure
to gambling. Today’s is the first generation to grow up
in a society where gambling is widely accepted, advertising is
ubiquitous and gambling activities are commonplace.
Research indicates that 60 to 90 percent of youth engage in gambling,
and that youth problem gambling rates are two to four times higher
than those of adults. Surveys of Oregon teens tell us drugs, alcohol
and gambling often travel together, yet many parents see gambling
as a relatively safe pastime and encourage it as an alternative
activity.
I told the concerned mom that, although we don’t know the
ultimate effects of today’s gambling popularity, we do know
both children and adults can (and do) get caught up in gambling
in a way that is harmful to themselves and others around them.
This is not to say that if your child is gambling you need to
panic — most kids engage in some form of gambling and most
don’t develop gambling problems. But you do need to recognize
that gambling carries risk and approach it accordingly, as you
would tobacco use, drug use or fastening your car’s seat
belt.
What do you look for if you’re concerned your child might
have a problem? Watch for signs such as lying about gambling,
gambling superseding other activities, using money to gamble that’s
supposed to be used for other things, borrowing money to gamble
or stealing and letting schoolwork suffer.
Another suggestion I gave the concerned mom was to talk to her
kids about gambling using these simple guidelines:
• Notice opportunities to discuss gambling. Help children
make sense out of what they see on television, in the news and
in the community.
• Discuss rules and expectations for behavior, and follow
through with consequences.
• Be specific. When you talk about gambling, mention examples
such as buying a lottery ticket, betting on a sports event, playing
bingo.
• Be clear about your own values but avoid sweeping statements
(all gambling is bad) or threats (“if I ever catch you betting
money ...”). Kids feel immortal, so scaring them doesn’t
work; threats invite rebellion.
• Emphasize balance and choice. Facing choices about gambling
and other risky behaviors can be a good way to practice making
good decisions about many life issues.
As a parent, you play the most important role in preventing problem
gambling behaviors in your children. You may want to think twice
before buying your daughter a “Pink Poker Night” set
or, for that matter, any one of the hundreds of gambling products
that will adorn your newspaper’s ad inserts.
A better gift is talking to your kids about the risks of gambling
and helping them understand the best bets made in life aren’t
made in card games.
Jeff Marotta of Portland is problem gambling services manager
in the Oregon Department of Human Services Addictions and Mental
Health Division.
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