Are you worried about how gambling may be affecting you?
Some teenagers face difficulties with gambling. You may bet every now and then, but it’s important to be careful because gambling can be risky. Some teenagers start gambling for fun and excitement, but end up doing it too much.
To keep yourself safe, it’s a good idea to understand the ins and outs of gambling. This can help you make smart decisions and watch out for signs you might be gambling too much.
Are you worried about how gambling may be affecting a teenager?
Most people don’t think that gambling is an issue for young people. But some teenagers face difficulties with gambling. Many teenagers may have a bet now and then, but it’s important to be aware that gambling can be risky. Unfortunately, some young people start gambling for fun and excitement, but end up doing it too much.
If you’re a parent, other family member, or a friend of a young person, you can protect them by learning more about the risks of gambling. This can help you help them make smart decisions about their gambling and watch out for signs they might be gambling too much.
Are you worried about how gambling may be affecting a teenager?
Most people don’t think that gambling is an issue for young people. But some young people face difficulties with gambling. Many teenagers may have a bet now and then, but it’s important to be aware that gambling can be risky. Unfortunately, some young people start gambling for fun and excitement, but end up doing it too much.
Teenage gambling is a concern for many health professionals, teachers, and youth workers. You can protect young people by learning more about the risks of gambling. This can help you help them make smart decisions about their gambling and watch out for signs they might be gambling too much.
How much do teenagers gamble?
Although gambling is illegal in Australia for people under 18, it’s common among teenagers. The NSW Youth Gambling Study 2020 shows that almost one-third of young people between the ages of 12 and 17 have gambled in the previous year and just under half have gambled at some point in their lives. The average age they had first gambled was 11. The most popular forms of gambling for young people aged between 12 and 17 are informal private betting, like gambling with mates. Other popular gambling activities are lotteries or instant scratch tickets, bingo and keno. Around one-quarter of young people this age gamble online each year. Although most teenagers don’t gamble frequently, about 4% do so more than once a week. About 3 to 4% of teenagers will develop, or are at-risk of developing issues with gambling - that’s about one kid in every classroom.
Which young people are most at risk?
Research shows that teenagers most at risk of experiencing harm from their gambling include those who:
- are male
- started gambling at an early age
- have experienced family conflict
- have family members or friends who also gamble
- do more than one type of gambling
- experience anxiety or depression
- display risky or impulsive behaviours
- have difficulties paying attention
- struggle to meet expectations in school
- have high levels of alcohol or substance use
- have family or friends who have high levels of alcohol or substance use
- are exposed to a high volume of gambling ads.
Why are young people at risk?
Research shows that young people are influenced by a range of factors, including being more likely to make risky bets, online gambling being easy to access, being more digitally savvy, the influence of their parents and friends, and advertising.
Teenagers might find it more difficult to understand the dangers of gambling compared to older people. This is because the parts of our brains that are responsible for decision-making aren’t fully developed in adolescence. This means that teenagers can be more impulsive and make riskier bets.
Even though they may not be able to attend hotels and casinos, teenagers can find ways to gamble online, especially if they have access to credit cards. The increased convenience and availability of online gambling, without the checks and balances that are available in hotels and casinos, increases the chances they will experience harm from their gambling.
Teenagers are skilled at using digital platforms and navigating the online world. This makes it easier for them to find ways to participate in online gambling, even if there are legal restrictions in place.
Parents, grandparents and other family members often allow teenagers to gamble with them. Many teenagers who gamble online do so using their parent’s gambling account with permission. The risk of experiencing harm from gambling increases for teenagers if the adults in their house gamble with them, don’t set any limits on their online activities, or have their own gambling issues.
The gambling of teenagers can also be influenced by their friends. Teens who have friends who gamble are more likely to start gambling themselves.
Teenagers see gambling advertisements more than ever. These ads are on TV during sports and racing events, and are all over websites, apps, and social media that they use. They’re designed to make young people think that gambling is a normal and enjoyable activity, which makes them more likely to try it out and can lead to gambling harm.
There are many reasons why it can be very easy to lose more time and money than you can afford when you’re gambling online. To find out more, see our section Online Gambling.
To find out more, see our section on Gaming.
What are the signs of a gambling issue in young people?
Signs of an issue with gambling include:
- thinking about gambling or planning to gamble
- needing to gamble with more and more money to get the amount of excitement you want
- spending more than you planned to on gambling
- feeling bad or fed up when trying to cut down or stop gambling
- gambling to help you to escape from problems or when you are feeling bad
- trying to win back money you lost
- lying to your family
- arguing with family, friends or others
- missing or dropping out of school.
One of these signs may not mean much, but there is the possibility you may have an issue if you have a couple of these signs.
Do you want more help?
It can be upsetting to realise you might have an issue with your gambling. But there are free services and support options that can help you. To find out what supports are available for you, check out Support for Young People who Gamble.
To find out more about your gambling, chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also call the KidsHelpline on 1800 55 1800, it’s free and available 24/7.
What are the signs of a gambling issue in young people?
Parents and other adults are in a good position to look out for some of the signs of a gambling issue in young people. Signs to look out for include:
- missing or dropping out of school
- sudden changes in how much money they have
- struggling to sleep or sleeping in late
- talking less to you and their friends
- talking a lot about simulated games or betting
- talking about sport only in terms of odds
- negative attitudes
- spending time alone and withdrawing from friends
- not looking after themselves
- asking family or friends for money
- spending less on other things, like clothes, movies and music
- not doing or struggling with their schoolwork
- a drop in their grades
- consistently getting into trouble at school
- irritability or lethargy
- acting secretive.
It may not mean much if your child or other young person has one of these signs. There may be other things going on in their lives. But there is the possibility they may have an issue if they have a couple of these signs.
Finding out that a teenager you care about is struggling with gambling can be tough, and it's normal to feel worried. However, it can also be a relief to finally understand what's going on. Before talking to them about it, it's a good idea to take some time to make a plan. You can find helpful advice on how to start the conversation in our Starting the Conversation section.
Do you want more help?
To find out how to support teenagers who gamble, check out Support for Young People who Gamble.
To find out more about gambling in young people, you or your family member or friend can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members or friends like you. It’s not only the person who gambles that can be affected, but the people close to them to. It’s important to take care of yourself when you’re supporting someone else. Check out the family and friends section in our peer support community to connect with people who understand.
What are the signs of a gambling issue in young people?
Teachers, health professionals, and other professionals can be in a good position to look out for the signs of a gambling issue in young people. Signs to look out for include:
- missing or dropping out of school
- sudden changes in how much money they have
- struggling to sleep or sleeping in late
- talking less to you and their friends
- talking a lot about simulated games or betting
- talking about sport only in terms of odds
- negative attitudes
- spending time alone and withdrawing from friends
- not looking after themselves
- asking family or friends for money
- spending less on other things, like clothes, movies and music
- not doing or struggling with their schoolwork
- a drop in their grades
- consistently getting into trouble at school
- irritability or lethargy
- acting secretive.
It may not mean much if the young person you’re working with has one of these signs. There may be other things going on in their lives. But there is the possibility they may have an issue if they have a couple of these signs.
Understanding how gambling affects young people can assist you in deciding what actions to take. If you're a professional, you likely know about the potential negative effects of gambling and can provide support to a young person who is gambling too much. You may also be in a position to provide practical advice or help them find support services. Our section on How Professionals can Help provides guidance on how to have a conversation with them about it and how you might be able to help. With your help and encouragement, they can regain control over their gambling
Do you want more help?
To find out how to support young people who gamble, check out Support for Young People who Gamble.
To find out more about gambling in teenagers, you or the person you’re working with can start an online chat with us or call the Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 – free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
These services are available to support anyone affected by gambling harm, including family members, friends, and professionals like you. It can be hard for professionals to support people with gambling issues. To learn more about how you can help, go to our section on How Professionals Can Help.
