Poker, Gambling Captures Attention Of Fla. Pre-Teens
POSTED: Sunday, November 20, 2005
UPDATED: 7:22 am EST November 28,
2005
The number of children in Florida considered problem gamblers is more than twice the national average, according to an exclusive Problem Solvers investigation.Gambling is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 but that is not stopping a new generation of pre-teens, Problem Solver Nancy Alvarez said.Local 6 News showed video of a poker game in Central Florida being played by 10-year-old boys.The popularity of poker has increased now that children can watch celebrities playing it on television, according to the report."Is it just fun and games?" Alvarez asked.The executive director of the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling, Pat Fowler, told Local 6 News that gambling at an early age is a bad bet."There is certainly a connection between what age a child is exposed to gambling and the propensity for their developing a problem later in life," Fowler said.A study sponsored by the Council on Compulsive Gambling found that seven out of ten Florida teens have placed bets at some point. And, one out of ten teens gamble on a weekly basis.Experts said with easy access to online poker Web sites like this one, the problem may only get worse."I think they're just having a good time," parent Jenni Goldstein told Local 6 News. "I didn't know until today that any of them had gambled for money.""Winning is fun," one of the boys told Local 6 News. "I like getting stuff from winning,.""Do you feel like it's dangerous at all?" Alvarez asked."It could be, because once you get older, you'll think it's OK to gamble," the boy said."Do you think it's OK?" Alvarez asked."No," the boy replied."Then why do you?" Alvarez asked.(Child laughs)Studies show that the excitement and adrenaline rush that builds from winning is one of the elements that fuel an addiction."We're creating an environment that was intended for adults who are capable of handling it with children who are not capable," Fowler said.Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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