NCJ Number
154565
Journal
School Safety Update Dated: (December 1994) Pages: 1-3
Editor(s)
J L Arnette
Date Published
1994
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This paper considers the nature and extent of juveniles' gambling on school grounds.
Abstract
The Los Angeles Times estimated that as many as 7 million juveniles nationwide gamble for money, with more than 1 million of them experiencing problems due to their gambling. According to Investor's Business Daily, other gambling experts estimate that teenagers compose approximately 1 million of the approximately 8 million compulsive gamblers in the United States. Some studies by gambling researchers indicate that teenagers are two-and-one-half times more likely than adults to go through periods of gambling addiction. Gambling at school can occur in a variety of ways. Teenagers bet on sports in pools organized by peers at school. During football season, students often place weekly bets on professional teams. During basketball season, pools for the college playoffs are common. Some students report playing blackjack for money at school. Junior high students report that kids gamble in the school bathrooms or other hidden locations on school grounds, using lunch money or pocket change, tossing coins into the air and betting on heads or tails. Since gambling is often a covert activity among youth, school officials should investigate the possibility of a gambling problem on campus and take appropriate steps to prohibit any related behaviors. Educators should consider informing students about the dangers of gambling. 8 references