Youth Gambling Prevention & Awareness
In Connecticut, 21 is the legal age for casino gambling. (Other forms of gambling—such as high-stakes bingo, lottery tickets, keno, and off-track betting—have a minimum age of 18.) Because the brain continues developing until the mid-20s, underage gambling qualifies as high risk, with increased potential for developing a disorder or addiction. The minimum age law aims to avoid these issues by increasing the age at which people begin gambling.
For Parents
Talking with Your Child About Gambling
Parents are the biggest influence in their children’s lives, which is why it’s so important to have frequent discussions about the risks of gambling as well as your own expectations. Handle this topic just as you would alcohol or drugs—even if you don’t think it could happen to your child, the risk of developing a gambling disorder is real.
1.
Keep an open door, and an open mind. Foster a strong relationship and healthy communication with your child. They’ll be more likely to talk to you—and more likely to listen.
2.
See it from their point of view. Young people don’t have to go to the casino to gamble— opportunities to place bets are all around them, from sports to card games to video games. These small or friendly bets may at first seem harmless.
3.
State the facts. Teach your child about the short-term and long-term risks of gambling and betting. Show them just how low the odds of winning truly are, and what they could do with the money saved by not betting at all.
4.
Set the rules. Set clear, specific rules about—and consequences for—gambling. Ensure that your rules are enforceable: a lack of consistency sends mixed messages to your child.
5.
Keep checking in. Open, ongoing conversation is a reminder that your child has a caring person they can turn to with questions or if problems arise.
