Gambling before the age of 10 and can lay the foundation of seeking excitement through risky behaviors in the future, such as using cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. The earlier a child starts gambling, the more likely they are to have problems due to gambling. This is significantly higher than the percentage of youth who began using cigarettes, alcohol or marijuana before age ten, which ranges from 12.5% to 13.9%. In fact, 39.5% of youth age 12-17 have gambled this past year, and 30% of these youth state that they began gambling at age 10 or younger. Problem gambling can start young really young. There are so many other issues, why should I be concerned about youth gambling? Part of what we do at NYCPG is working with communities and groups to prevent youth gambling. NYCPG maintains a neutral stance on gambling and is governed by a Board of Directors. The New York Council on Problem Gambling (NYCPG) is a not-for-profit independent corporation dedicated to increasing public awareness about problem and disordered gambling and advocating for support services and treatment for persons adversely affected by problem gambling.
NYS PTA and NY Council on Problem Gambling Resources:
