Let’s talk risk
a guide to discussing gambling with your child

Table of contents

01	introduction
04	facts and statistics
12	reduce the risk and warning signs
15	conversation starters
19	activities
28	print-friendly activities

How can I keep my
child safe and healthy?

01

dear parent,

Every day since your child was born, you’ve likely asked yourself: how can I keep them safe and healthy?

The reality is that risks are everywhere. They’re a part of life. As parents, we can’t control every risk our child takes. But we can guide them away from more problematic risk-taking behavior— like alcohol, substance use, vaping, and gambling.
While drugs and alcohol are a common concern for parents of adolescents, gambling often gets overlooked. That’s totally okay—it’s why this toolkit was created.
If the enclosed information is new to you, don’t worry! It’s never too late to have these important conversations with your child. You’re taking the right steps by helping them build healthy habits so they can explore risk safely and with confidence.

Note: Although this toolkit was designed for parents of youth ages 10-13, you can use any of the conversation pointers with children of other ages.

03
definition

Gambling:
When you risk something of value, and you don’t know if you will win or lose.

Youth and gambling: A risk without reward
Surprising stats

From alcohol to drugs and vaping, certain addictions, especially ones that impact the adolescent brain, are front-and-center among parents’ concerns. Problem gambling is a less- recognized risk that affects youth more than you may think.
Problem gambling impacts 4-5% of youth ages 12-17 compared to just 1% of adults. That means more than 40,000 adolescents in Massachusetts struggle with problem gambling. In fact, 60-80%
of high school students report having gambled in the past year, and gambling disorders can develop in children as young as 10. Overall, the number of children with gambling problems has quadrupled in just two years.

of 6th-8th graders are engaged in some form of gambling
of high school students report having gambled once in the past year

4-8%
of youth are impacted by problem gambling, compared to just 1% of adults
10yrs
The age gambling disorders can begin to develop in children

06

Gambling fast facts

07

of 6th-8th graders are engaged in some form of gambling
5%
of youth (ages 12-17) suffer from problem gambling

1%
of adults suffer from problem gambling

The number of youth with gambling problems has quadrupled in just two years

13%
80%
Among all addictions, gambling is linked to the highest suicide rate
Adolescents who gamble are also more likely to
of youth (ages 11-16) have played
gambling-style games online
of high school students report
having gambled for money
during the past year
use illegal drugs

08

How it starts
Even if youth can’t go to a casino or buy a lottery ticket, they can get involved in gambling in a number of ways, such as:

Observing or joining adult poker games or sports betting

Scratching off a lottery ticket purchased by a parent or other adult

Playing an online or mobile app game with pay-to-play activities

So why is this a
problem?

10

It can impact youth for life
So, why is this a problem? How can playing a game that involves imaginary pets or magic coins lead to a lifelong gambling addiction?
Research shows that children introduced to seemingly harmless betting by age 12 are four times more likely to engage in problem gambling later in life. The parts of the brain that receive a “rush” of reward from substances are also stimulated by gambling. Since their prefrontal cortexes (the brain’s logic center) aren’t fully-developed, youth often have difficulty assessing risk and making healthy choices for themselves. So that “win” on a mobile app or Roblox® game today can lead to unhealthy real-life gambling, and all its negative side effects, tomorrow.

Children introduced to betting by age 12 are 4x more likely to engage in problem gambling later in life.”

Reduce the risk
There are plenty of ways you can reduce your child’s risk of developing problem gambling. To help you get started, we’ve include some recommended steps below:

01
Reduce your child’s exposure to gambling. Since children often mirror what their parents do, consider skipping that next lottery ticket or weekend poker game.

02
Establish clear rules around your child’s screen time. This will decrease opportunities for online gambling.
03
If you notice your child playing any gambling- related apps or games, speak up and start a conversation. You can always use the tips included in this toolkit!

04
Keep an eye on your child’s spending habits. Get more information the next time they ask for your credit card to make a purchase.
Know the warning signs
Understanding the warning signs of youth problem gambling can help you recognize it and prevent
it from becoming an issue down the line. This is especially important if there is a history of
addiction in your family. Warning signs from your child might include:

Changes in attitude around school (missing classes, not completing assignments, showing less interest in extracurricular activities, and/or getting lower grades)

Changes in mood or behavior (aggression,
defensiveness, signs of anxiety/depression and/ or secrecy)

Noticeable interest in competition (winning or being right)

Money allotted for routine expenses (e.g. lunch money) or household cash going missing

Stashes of money and/or new possessions appearing

Even if you don’t observe these warning signs, it’s important to talk to your child about healthy vs. unhealthy gambling behavior — just as you would discuss other threats to their well-being.

14

Start talking
Even if your family does not participate in betting or gambling, chances are your child has been exposed to gambling behaviors through media and advertising. Talking with your youth today can help them establish healthy ways of thinking so that these exposures do not lead to problem gambling.
Set the tone
Try to avoid challenges such as “I bet you can’t make it down the street in under 30 seconds,” which can normalize gambling behavior.
Instead, encourage your child to enjoy activities that are traditionally associated with wagers— such as card games or sports championships — without placing bets.

State the facts
Youth often overestimate the likelihood of winning a bet or a game. Level-setting those odds can help reduce the appeal of gambling. For instance, you can compare the odds of winning the lottery (1 in 292 million) to the odds of being struck by lightning (1 in 3,000).
Flip the script
Remind your child that gambling rarely results in winning. Allow them to consider what they can do with the money they save by not gambling.

Explain the science
Talk with your child about the dangers of gambling as you would talk to them about the risks of drugs and alcohol. Explain how their underdeveloped brains aren’t yet ready to make fully-informed decisions and are still
susceptible to addiction’s most harmful effects.

16
Promote healthy activities
As youth get older, they might be better able to identify when gambling is just for fun versus when it becomes a problem. Until then, make sure family fun activities focus on experiences other than betting.

Be in the know
Be aware of the games and apps your child uses. Identify those that mimic gambling behavior. Ask questions and gauge your
child’s understanding of their own relationship with gambling.

17

How to use this toolkit
This toolkit is designed to help you and your child have meaningful conversations about the risks of gambling. When going through the activities, try to use them as a conversation starter. Ask follow-up questions, challenge their responses, and encourage them to think of alternative ways to approach these issues. Specific follow-up questions are included in each activity, so keep an eye out for those.

references
Know the Odds
knowtheodds.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/NYCPG_ebook_ YouthGambling_052114.pdf
National Council for Problem Gambling Fact Sheet
ncpgambling.org/files/HS_Fact_Sheet.pdf

New York Council on Problem Gambling
talk2kids.org/

Raisingchildren.net.au
raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/behaviour/behaviour-questions- issues/gambling
Youthdecide.org
youthdecideny.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Did-YOU-Know- Brochure.pdf
Massachusetts Youth Health Survey
mass.gov/lists/massachusetts-youth-health-survey-myhs

Activities

01	tic-tac-toe
02	matching memory cards
03	scenario cards
tic-tac-toe

Is it gambling or not?

How to play
To start, the player reads a real-life scenario in the square and states whether the situation should be considered gambling or not. No matter what the
player decides, they place a coin or other small object in the square. There are no right or wrong answers here —the goal is to talk things out.

Other than that, play this game like a regular
game of tic-tac-toe. The first person to get three in a row, column, or diagonal wins.
let’s play!

Parent prompts for conversation
To have a meaningful conversation about gambling, ask the following questions to your child during and/or after the game.

Why do you think this situation is or isn’t gambling?

What needs to change in the situation so that it would be considered gambling (or not gambling)?

Do you think I would give the same answer you did, or a different one?

Have you ever been in a situation like this one? If so, what did you do?
taking a $10 wager if the red sox beat the yankees
purchasing an
upgrade from a game that is guaranteed
borrowing money from a friend to play
an online game

accepting a challenge that starts with,
“i bet you $5...”
participating
in a bingo game that costs $5 to play
playing a card game
without money involved

trading pokÉmon cards	buying a scratch ticket
spending $2 in a mobile game to open a loot box
matching memory cards

What are the chances?

How to play
01
Print the following two pages and cut along the dotted lines to separate the individual cards.
There will be 16 in total.

02
Place all game cards face down on a flat surface.

03
Each player takes turns flipping over two cards to reveal the information on the other side. If the cards are a match, the player keeps the set and gets to take another turn. Matching cards have
the same icon. Each matching pair will have one card with an event and another card with the
likelihood of that event happening.

04
If the cards selected are not a match, the player puts them back in place, face down on the table.

05
Players take turns until all the cards are correctly matched. The player with the most cards at the
end of the game wins.

Parent prompts for conversation
At the end of the game, ask the below questions to see what your child’s takeaways were.

Which of these stats surprised you the most? Which surprised you the least?

What did you notice about the gambling stats compared to the non-gambling stats? Were
gambling scenarios more likely or less likely to happen than the others?

Which is more likely to happen to you — getting injured by a toilet or winning the lottery?
PRINT

,,11,
------	•	•	◄►
your chances of being injured
by a toilet
your chances of being eaten by a shark
your chances of being hit by a meteorite
your chances of being struck by lightning

..illll •
t - - ••
?,
• •••
••••
••••
·.,., .
.,•♦♦
•
your chances
of winning $10,000
on a scratch ticket
your chances of hitting the jackpot on a slot machine
your chances of rolling two 6's on a pair of dice
your chances of winning the
Powerball®lottery

PRINT
PRINT

PRINT
scenario cards

Real-life gambling scenarios

Parent prompts for conversation
Hypothetical situations can help prepare youth for when they encounter gambling in real-life. Read each of the gambling-related scenarios with your child and discuss their responses. Ask follow-up questions. Once your child gives a response, dig deeper into their thinking.

Tell me more about why that would be your response.

Would you always respond that way, or would you sometimes respond differently?

What do you think [family member’s name] would do in this situation?

Is there a different way to approach the situation that might help you make a better decision?
PRINT

01	ROBLOX
LOTTERY
02	TICKETS
FORTNITE
03	TOURNAMENT

You’re playing Adopt Me on Roblox® with a friend and are trying to find a rare pet. You collect ten eggs and want to use Robux to hatch them all, but you’ve already spent your monthly limit on Roblox®. To buy more, you would need to ask your parents for their credit card. You say it’s not worth it since you may not even get the egg you’re looking for. But your friend responds, “It’s only a few dollars!”.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

Your grandparents always give you a toy each holiday season. This year, you politely let them know that you’re a bit too old for toys and would appreciate a different type of gift. They suggest that they give you a lottery ticket instead.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

A group of popular kids are betting on a professional Fortnite® tournament and ask you to join. It’s pretty cool that they asked, but joining in means you will need to take
$25 out of your savings without telling your parents — and they know you’re working hard to save up for those new sneakers.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

PRINT

Print-friendly activities

28

taking a $10 wager if the red sox beat the yankees	

purchasing an
upgrade from a game that is guaranteed	

borrowing money from a friend to play
an online game	

accepting a challenge that starts with,
“i bet you $5...”	

participating
in a bingo game that costs $5 to play	

playing a card game
without money involved	

trading pokÉmon cards	

buying a scratch ticket	

spending $2 in a mobile game to open a loot box	

Ill'
-------
PRINT

I I
◄►

your chances of being injured
by a toilet
your chances of being eaten by a shark
your chances of being hit by a meteorite
your chances of being struck by lightning

..illll •
t - - ••
?,
• •••
••••
••••
. F! I
., ,.
•
your chances
of winning $10,000
on a scratch ticket
your chances of hitting the jackpot on a slot machine
your chances of rolling two 6's on a pair of dice
your chances of winning the
Powerball®lottery
PRINT
PRINT

01	ROBLOX
LOTTERY
02	TICKETS
FORTNITE
03	TOURNAMENT

You’re playing Adopt Me on Roblox® with a friend and are trying to find a rare pet. You collect ten eggs and want to use Robux to hatch them all, but you’ve already spent your monthly limit on Roblox®. To buy more, you would need to ask your parents for their credit card. You say it’s not worth it since you may not even get the egg you’re looking for. But your friend responds, “It’s only a few dollars!”.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

Your grandparents always give you a toy each holiday season. This year, you politely let them know that you’re a bit too old for toys and would appreciate a different type of gift. They suggest that they give you a lottery ticket instead.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

A group of popular kids are betting on a professional Fortnite® tournament and ask you to join. It’s pretty cool that they asked, but joining in means you will need to take
$25 out of your savings without telling your parents — and they know you’re working hard to save up for those new sneakers.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

PRINT

Learn more at mass.gov/YouthGambling or scan the QR code