Gambling on reality

With youth aged 18 to 24 at the highest risk for developing gambling problems, the Responsible Gambling Council is taking to the Internet to deliver their message.

"It’s definitely a big way of reaching young people because a lot of them are online already and Facebook is one of the biggest social media tools they’re using right now," said Danielle Ayee, Knowing the Score 2 representative.

Knowing the Score 2 is a program from the RGC that highlights the realities of gambling to youth; it evolved from an earlier program that focused solely on campus visits. Now, they do both.

In addition to the campus visits, KTS2 has an interactive website, a Facebook page and they use Bluetooth technology to send text messages. They set up at Confederation College Monday and Tuesday and will be at Lakehead University Wednesday and Thursday.

Ayee said signs people have a gambling problem are thinking gambling is more important than family and friends, missing school or work to gamble and borrowing money to gamble.

In addition to taking students away from class, gambling can cause them to use money designated for tuition, rent and books to feed their habit.

"It can have devastating effects," Ayee said. "We really want to get the information out there so that if these young people choose to gamble, they do so safely."

While KTS2 focuses on gambling in casinos, sports betting and poker, the focus on Confederation was specifically online poker.

"All of the online and in-casino (gambling) are equally important but online especially because now that these people are away from home for the first time, they may just be in their dorms and online is the easiest way for them to be gambling right now," said Ayee.

Pre-health student Samantha Gustaw said everybody could have a gambling problem to some degree or at least know someone who does. She also agreed online was the best way to reach youth.

"Almost everybody I know uses Facebook. Almost everybody I know has a cell phone," she said.