Are you taking a gamble?

Planning to play a lot of games while you're home due to COVID-19? While family time is important, everyone should be aware of the relationship between gaming, gambling, and addiction!

#Problem Gambling Awareness Month

Check out this 4-min. video from "Early Show" anchors & guest on video gaming addiction among children & some early signs for parents to look out for:

Connecticut is considering new casinos, online sports betting, and more ways to increase access to betting, which makes awareness and prevention critical. Online gaming is one way teens get involved (and potentially addicted) - and the lines between gaming and gambling are blurred.

Over 90% of teens play video games and it continues to grow as a common hobby.

• On average, teens play video games 12 hours a week.

• About 1-5% of youth develop problems with video games.

• Adults also play-- and can develop problems with video games.

• Up to 1 in 5 kids report gaming/gambling in the past month in our local youth surveys.

• 8-10 yos spend 5 hrs daily time gaming, while 13-17 yos spend 7.2 hrs/day

• 8 hrs+ of games interferes with the front part of the brain and affects the parts of the brain related to aggression

Cover the Basics

Talk with your kids about gaming and gambling, even if they’re as young as six years old.

• Bring up the subject of gambling before your child does.

• Talk about what you love about a sport, and make sure your child knows that a sport and gambling don’t have to go together.

• Discuss the things that can influence attitudes to gambling. For instance, you could talk about the blurred line between gaming and gambling, and how technology has made it easier to gamble.

• Manage access to your money. Are your credit or debit cards linked to accounts your children access, such as those for downloading music? Virtual gaming and gambling websites regularly offer purchased credits or rewards and it's not always obvious that these purchases relate to real money.

• Enforce rules around internet use. Create a screen-time plan, locate devices in a shared or visible place in the home, filter with safe internet searching settings, or install software to block gambling sites. (read here for more info)

GAMBLING IS NOT A RISK-FREE ACTIVITY

KNOW HOW TO KEEP THE "PROBLEM" OUT OF GAMBLING

HELP IS AVAILABLE

• Get involved with the Region 1 Gambling Awareness Team by contacting igillespie@communities4action.org.

• Click here for the Communities 4 Action special bulletin on Problem Gambling.

• Need help? Contact the Connecticut Problem Gambling hotline: (888) 789-7777 or Text "CTGAMB" to 53342.

• Looking for resources in SW Connecticut? Click here for our resource guides.

For more information and resources on problem gambling, please visit the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling's website or visit the DMHAS webpage.

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