This document discusses the effects of gambling addiction, signs of problem gambling, and prevention of gambling issues among youth. It notes that gambling addiction is similar to alcohol and drug addictions and can cause severe social and mental health consequences. Studies show that many youth start gambling between ages 10-19, with 39% starting before age 11. Signs of problem gambling in youth include mood swings, lying about gambling, using money meant for expenses on gambling, and depression. Prevention programs should increase youth's knowledge about risks, demonstrate statistical probability, and integrate gambling topics into subjects like math, health, and psychology. Schools are well positioned to help prevent and address youth gambling issues.

1. PhD. Candidate Menada PetroPhD. Candidate Menada Petro
Albanian International Conference on Education
December 7 – 8, 2012
Tirana, Albania
“Education for the Knowledge Society”

2. Gambling individual effects are similar to those
caused by alcohol and drugs
- Gamblers do not experience harmful physical effects (such as:
overdose, liver damage, depreciation trials, etc.) as a direct result of
gambling.
- They experience severe social consequences associated with fraud
and breach of trust to their friends and their loved ones
- Problematic gamblers have no ability to stop or control their behavior
- Gambling is an addiction often "hidden", not easily visible and
distinguishable

3. Many studies in the world, prove that
gambling started in childhood, specifically
at age of 10 - 19 years old.
The following results have been collected from
1000 questionnaires distributed to students in
high schools and university
-39% of teenagers have started gambling
before they have 11
- 51% between 11 – 15 years old
- 10% after 15 years old
32% have played into Casino
68% have played in other places.
53% claim that play at least once a week

4.  Spends a lot of time gambling and thinking about
gambling.
 Misses school or grades start to worsen because of time
spent gambling.
 Starts to place larger and more frequent bets to maintain
interest and excitement produced by gambling.
 Experiences mood swings and feels stressed when not
gambling regularly or trying to reduce or stop gambling.
 Promises to stop or reduce their gambling but has trouble
following through with plan.
 Lies or is secretive about gambling activities.
SIGNS OF PROBLEM GAMBLING

5.  Missing personal belongings or cannot cover regular expenses as
he/she has used these to finance gambling activities.
 Borrows or takes money from family members or friends to
gamble.
 Keeps on gambling because he/she believes that they can win
back their money and with the intention of eventually stopping.
 Gambles as a means to escape or forget their problems.
 Braggs about big wins, and is constantly talking about previous
gambling experiences.
 Carries around (and shows off) large amounts of money at times.
 Seems depressed, withdrawn, or anxious at times in between
highs
SIGNS OF PROBLEM GAMBLING

6. What gambling causes among children and
adolescents?
- Severe disorders of humorSevere disorders of humor
- Mental and personality disordersMental and personality disorders
- Family and social relationships brokenFamily and social relationships broken
- Motivation and concern disordersMotivation and concern disorders
- Interruption of school attendance or workInterruption of school attendance or work
- Involvement in minor and serious crimesInvolvement in minor and serious crimes
- SuicideSuicide

7. An effective prevention models should include:
• Activities that increase the level of knowledge about gambling
problems among youth
• Experiences that help in modifying and changing the view
that gambling is always a harmless behavior
• Discussions that help to change the wrong knowledge about
the role of skill and chance and the illusion of self-control
during the game
• Demonstrations and exercises in writing in a notebook or
chart to understand the statistical probability and superstition

8. Prevention does not require the implementation of an
entirely new program, preventive activities can be added
easily in school programs
 Social Education
Schools deal with topics of drugs, alcohol, violence, etc. Here we can also add topics
that deal with negative effects of gambling
 Mathematic & Statistic
Treatment of probability and the role of skills and chance
 Biology and Health Education / Psychology / Sociology
The influence of dopamine and serotonin in pathological and problematic gambling.
Gambling perceived in the brain by cells and molecules. Neurons translate the signal
into pleasure and reward for certain behavior.
Limbic system has a special role in mediating the acute reinforcing mechanisms
involved in pathological gambling

9. Examines the risk and protective factors and has
developed several programs for teachers, which can be
adapted to work in the classroom
These programs are designed for different levels of
students and teachers. They can be used by teachers who
have no knowledge of gambling issues and their problems,
as well as teachers who have limited time to administrate
the curriculum of the subject matter they cover.
Many of these programs are currently being implemented
in the U.S.; Canada; Europe; Australia; New Zealand and
Singapore.

10. PhD. candidate Menada Petro
menada_petro@yahoo.com
Gambling is become more acceptable than ever before and it is treated as a
pastime (while the effects and consequences are so negative about the life
of the individual and society).
Expansion of gambling is making evident the addition of gambling problems.
As key stakeholders, professional staff of schools have a unique opportunity
to facilitate in the prevention, identification and treatment of young people
who have gambling problems.