If you’re not aware that online gambling has become a huge problem among youth, especially boys, please read our previous blog, Gambling is Rapidly Becoming the Newest Addiction for Teens. Because it’s growing into such a difficult issue for young people, parents should discuss gambling with their children just like they do for other threats to their well-being like alcohol and drugs. Since gambling can begin as early as 10, it’s important to talk to your child early and often about this issue. You can even begin discussing the risks and consequences of gambling with your sons before they are exposed to online platforms.

Sometimes parents worry that discussing risky behaviors such as drinking alcohol, having sex, or gambling will introduce the idea to their child and actually increase the likelihood of their participation, but science doesn’t support this theory. In fact, research and studies show that youth are much more likely to avoid a behavior if their parents have talked to them about it and explained the risks.

Here are some tips for talking about gambling with your child:

Choose the right time – Look for opportunities to talk about gambling when your child is alone, calm and relaxed. An easy way to broach the topic is when you hear an ad for a gambling site or leading up to big sporting events.

Keep it brief – Teenagers hate lectures. You do not need to give a long-winded discussion. Short and sweet with some open-ended questions designed to get your child thinking is the best route.

Explain risks – You want to give your child the knowledge they need to make informed decisions for themselves. Since you don’t want to give a long, boring lecture, it’s a good idea to mention these different risks over time in different conversations. A few facts to highlight are:

• The odds are always against you when betting. Even is someone wins a lot one day, the odds are still in favor of losing.
• Just because someone knows a lot about sports doesn’t mean they’ll find success betting.
• Gambling is not a sustainable way to make money.
• Things are not what they seem online: popular streamers who are winning a lot are often playing with an online casino’s money and celebrities promoting gambling have a lot of money so losing isn’t impactful.
• Teens are at a higher risk than adults for developing a gambling addiction.
• Gambling negatively impacts relationships.
• Gambling can become very stressful, especially once losses start piling up.
• Gambling frequently leads to debt and bankruptcy.
• People who develop gambling addictions are more likely to commit suicide than people with any other type of addiction, including substance abuse.

Group it – Bring gambling up during other prevention talks about sex, drugs, and alcohol, because it’s just as important.

Set clear boundaries – Establish guidelines regarding screen time, online activities, and financial management to help prevent excessive gambling behavior.

Teach critical thinking skills – Good critical thinking skills prevent many bad decisions, so always encourage your children to evaluate the information presented in the media, online, and through advertisements. Ask your child why they think gambling apps offer free bets (to get people to play more), or why the apps use popular celebrities in commercials (to entice new users).

Ask about peers – Boys whose friends mostly gamble show extremely high participation (84%), compared with just 17% of those with no gambling friends. You could try to start a conversation about their friends, such as, “I see these DraftKings commercials all the time. What do you and your friends know about it? Have you guys ever bet on sports online?” Then, if they’re upfront with you, you can ask what they get out of it. Don’t shame them, but try asking how they handle some of the risks mentioned above.

Listen without judgment – Whenever talking to teens about important matters, it’s important to listen closely to their thoughts without jumping to conclusions or judgments. Create a supportive environment where your children feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and experiences.

Lead with curiosity – If you don’t want your kids to get defensive or tune you out during important conversations, the best approach is to ask them open-ended questions. You might ask: What would you do with the money if you win? What about gambling apps interests you? How do you know when to stop betting? Do you know anyone who has lost a lot of money?

Talk about your own experiences – If you gamble virtually or in person, be mindful of what you’re modeling. Talk about financial responsibility, and how you manage the feeling of wanting to keep betting and how you pull yourself away when the app or the house encourages you to keep going.

Final Thoughts…

A third of teens – especially boys – are gambling online, and because their brains are still developing, they run a higher risk of developing a problem and/or addiction from this early exposure. Use this guide to discuss the topic with your children because discussion is the best way to prevention.