Underage Gambling & Underage Gambling & Youth Court Youth Court November 14, 2009November 14, 2009

Rhonda StoneRhonda StoneCommunity Education CoordinatorCommunity Education Coordinator

MissionMission::The Evergreen Council on Problem

Gambling is dedicated to increasing public awareness of problem gambling, expanding the availability of services for problem gamblers and their families, and encouraging research and programs for

prevention and education.

Key Purposes: Key Purposes:

Treatment

Training

Awareness/Prevention/Education

Research

Advocacy

Teens & GamblingTeens & Gambling Individuals who start Individuals who start

gambling by age 12 are gambling by age 12 are four times more likely to four times more likely to develop a gambling develop a gambling problemproblem

On the 2008 Healthy Youth On the 2008 Healthy Youth Survey, 3% of High School Survey, 3% of High School Seniors acknowledged PG Seniors acknowledged PG symptomssymptoms

8.4% of Washington teens 8.4% of Washington teens gamble frequently enough gamble frequently enough to be at risk for developing to be at risk for developing a gambling problema gambling problem

What isWhat is TEEN GAMBLING?TEEN GAMBLING?

To teens, it is just a game To teens, it is just a game or a way to have fun— or a way to have fun—many don’t even realize they are many don’t even realize they are

gamblinggambling

What isWhat is TEEN GAMBLING?TEEN GAMBLING?

To parents, views vary To parents, views vary

Gambling is a personal Gambling is a personal choice.choice.

Legal for individuals age 18 or Legal for individuals age 18 or older (21 where alcohol is older (21 where alcohol is

served), research in Washington served), research in Washington State and the U.S. has shown State and the U.S. has shown that 96-98% of adults gamble that 96-98% of adults gamble

without developing a gambling without developing a gambling problemproblem

Unreliability and Unreliability and lyinglying

Debt Debt

Money by any Money by any means: means: borrowing, borrowing, stealing, fraudstealing, fraud

Loss of interest in Loss of interest in school and/or jobschool and/or job

Loss of jobLoss of job

Loss of Loss of relationshipsrelationships

Pursuit of Pursuit of gambling at any gambling at any cost cost (“chasing (“chasing losses”)losses”)

Stress and Stress and depressiondepression

Stress-related Stress-related death and suicidedeath and suicide

Life-altering Life-altering addictionaddiction

Consequences ofConsequences of Problem Gambling Problem Gambling::

Visit Visit www.evergreencpg.orgwww.evergreencpg.org for more for more information information

New Studies Show Brain New Studies Show Brain EffectsEffects Similar to Substance Similar to Substance

AbuseAbuse Similar to Meth Similar to Meth “Pathological Gamblers “Pathological Gamblers Demonstrate Frontal Lobe Demonstrate Frontal Lobe Impairment Consistent With That Impairment Consistent With That of Methamphetamine-Dependent of Methamphetamine-Dependent Individuals,” Kalechstein, Fong, Individuals,” Kalechstein, Fong, Rosenthal, Davis, Vanyo, Newton Rosenthal, Davis, Vanyo, Newton (2007): Journal of Neuropsychiatry (2007): Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Neurosciences& Neurosciences

Similar to Cocaine Similar to Cocaine “Functional imaging of neural “Functional imaging of neural responses to expectancy and responses to expectancy and experience of monetary gains and experience of monetary gains and losses,” losses,” Breiter, Aharon, Kahneman, Breiter, Aharon, Kahneman, Dale, Shizgal (2001):Dale, Shizgal (2001): NeuronNeuron, 30(2) , 30(2) 619-639619-639

What can we do?What can we do? Provide info for teens and their Provide info for teens and their

parents parents

Help teens assess their own riskHelp teens assess their own risk

Influence school and program Influence school and program policypolicy

Use the new state penalties for Use the new state penalties for teens gambling in casinos and teens gambling in casinos and card roomscard rooms

$125 Fine$125 Fine

Court costs Court costs potentially potentially doubling the finedoubling the fine

Up to 4 hours of Up to 4 hours of community servicecommunity service

SourceSource:: Washington State Gambling Washington State Gambling Commission Commission

Visit Visit www.notazander.comwww.notazander.com for more information for more information

New State PenaltiesNew State Penalties

Information Coming for:Information Coming for: Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement

CourtsCourts

TeensTeens

ParentsParents

SchoolsSchools

JOINT EFFORTJOINT EFFORT:: WSGC & ECPG WSGC & ECPG

““Not A Zander” Not A Zander” CampaignCampaign

www.notazander.cowww.notazander.comm

Available 24/7Available 24/7

1.800.547.61331.800.547.6133

Washington State’s Washington State’s Problem Gambling Problem Gambling

HelplineHelpline

For More For More InformationInformation

Rhonda Stone: Rhonda Stone: 360.352.6133 360.352.6133

rstone@evergreencpg.orgrstone@evergreencpg.org

ThanThank k

you!you!