Teens Gambling Goes Beyond Money to Posessions and Sex

Australian teenagers admit to gambling whenever they can for whatever is handy, including cell phones and sex, as laws to prevent teen exposure to gaming seem about as delusional as laws to prevent teens from exposure to foul language.

Australian research into the propensity for teenagers to participate at gambling found over three-quarters of 17-year-olds have gambled in one form or another. Further, the survey discovered that teens use whatever substitutes they have available if money is short for gaming including even one girl's virginity.

The Central Coast Problem Gambling Service found that teens denied gaming opportunities at bars and other gambling outlets create their own bets on playgrounds and online. Over 62 percent of those 14 and over had gambled at some point.

Service manager Chris Davidson relayed a story of one girl who lost her virginity over a bet. Others use parents' credit cards, or trade assets like cell phones.

Counselors for the problem gambling center warned that increasing usage of online casinos could result in youth gaming that is hidden from parents and friends. But the data of the project itself shows that children find ways to gamble, even when many barriers are set up to prevent exactly that.

The compulsive gambling program recommends early intervention, by educating children on the dangers of gambling and the signs of problem gaming.