How to avoid getting involved in gambling at an early age
Introduction
Early exposure to gambling increases the risk of addiction in adulthood. The main task is to form critical thinking and strong social skills in children and adolescents so that excitement remains an alien phenomenon. Below is a set of measures tested by the Australian Responsible Play Services.
1. Education and awareness
1. Integrating the theme into the school
Include the concepts of "home advantage," probability and mathematical uncertainty in the curriculum.
Do interactive classes: Simulate playing with dice or cards without betting to demonstrate how odds work.
2. Conversations about advertising and digital content
Explain how operator marketing creates the illusion of an "easy" win.
Analyze real-world examples of banners and videos with teens, identifying hidden messages.
3. Online tests and self-diagnostics
Offer to take a PGSI-Youth or a short SOGS. Analyzing results in a peer group or with a teacher increases engagement.
2. Family rules and dialogue
1. Family "entertainment code"
Define a list of permitted and prohibited leisure activities (for example, board games -, betting on virtual sports -).
Fix the rule: any "money games" are discussed by the whole family in advance.
2. Regular family check-in
Weekly conversations about what the child was fond of, what online resources he used and how he felt.
Use the "three questions" format: what you learned, what you liked, what caused doubts or anxiety.
3. Role models
Children copy the behavior of adults. Avoid betting in front of teenagers, explain why you are not gambling yourself.
3. Technical barriers
1. OS and Browser Parental Controls
On iOS/iPadOS and Android, use the built-in Gambling restrictions.
Configure OpenDNS FamilyShield DNS filters on your home router to exclude access to all gambling sites.
2. Specialized blockers
Install BetBlocker or Gamban Youth Edition on the child's devices: removal without a parent's PIN is impossible.
For computers - BlockSite or LeechBlock NG extensions with a password that restrict access to the categories "Casino," "Betting," etc.
3. Monitoring and notifications
Set up family reports in Google Family Link or Microsoft Family Safety - parents are notified of attempts to visit prohibited resources.
4. Alternative leisure activities
1. Access to a variety of hobbies
Sports clubs, robotics clubs, theater sections - regular classes help fill your free time.
Encourage participation in community projects and volunteering - this gives a deep sense of significance without the risk of gambling "sweetening."
2. Gamification of useful tasks
Use apps that turn study and sports into a "game" with internal achievements, points and levels.
Enter a family challenge: for completing real tasks (cleaning, reading), "coins" are awarded, which can be exchanged for incentives.
3. Joint activities
Periodic "gadget-free" weekends: hikes, picnics, board tournaments - strengthen family ties and reduce the desire to "win" online.
5. Support and early intervention
1. School psychologists and counselors
At the slightest sign of interest in betting (talking, observing sites), connect a specialist for a conversation in a confidential format.
2. Peer-support for teens
Form mutual assistance groups at a school or club: senior students and Gambler's Help volunteers conduct questionnaires and conversations, sharing their personal experience of avoiding gambling risks.
3. Youth hotlines
eheadspace. org. au (under 25) - chat and video support without mentioning a name.
Gambling Help Online Chat is an anonymous chat to urgently stop the desire to play.
Conclusion
Only a set of measures can prevent gambling at an early stage: the education system, family rules and dialogue, technical barriers and alternative activities. The involvement of parents, school services and access to specialized programs create a safe environment where excitement does not acquire attractiveness, and adolescents form conscious habits and resistance to risks.
Early exposure to gambling increases the risk of addiction in adulthood. The main task is to form critical thinking and strong social skills in children and adolescents so that excitement remains an alien phenomenon. Below is a set of measures tested by the Australian Responsible Play Services.
1. Education and awareness
1. Integrating the theme into the school
Include the concepts of "home advantage," probability and mathematical uncertainty in the curriculum.
Do interactive classes: Simulate playing with dice or cards without betting to demonstrate how odds work.
2. Conversations about advertising and digital content
Explain how operator marketing creates the illusion of an "easy" win.
Analyze real-world examples of banners and videos with teens, identifying hidden messages.
3. Online tests and self-diagnostics
Offer to take a PGSI-Youth or a short SOGS. Analyzing results in a peer group or with a teacher increases engagement.
2. Family rules and dialogue
1. Family "entertainment code"
Define a list of permitted and prohibited leisure activities (for example, board games -, betting on virtual sports -).
Fix the rule: any "money games" are discussed by the whole family in advance.
2. Regular family check-in
Weekly conversations about what the child was fond of, what online resources he used and how he felt.
Use the "three questions" format: what you learned, what you liked, what caused doubts or anxiety.
3. Role models
Children copy the behavior of adults. Avoid betting in front of teenagers, explain why you are not gambling yourself.
3. Technical barriers
1. OS and Browser Parental Controls
On iOS/iPadOS and Android, use the built-in Gambling restrictions.
Configure OpenDNS FamilyShield DNS filters on your home router to exclude access to all gambling sites.
2. Specialized blockers
Install BetBlocker or Gamban Youth Edition on the child's devices: removal without a parent's PIN is impossible.
For computers - BlockSite or LeechBlock NG extensions with a password that restrict access to the categories "Casino," "Betting," etc.
3. Monitoring and notifications
Set up family reports in Google Family Link or Microsoft Family Safety - parents are notified of attempts to visit prohibited resources.
4. Alternative leisure activities
1. Access to a variety of hobbies
Sports clubs, robotics clubs, theater sections - regular classes help fill your free time.
Encourage participation in community projects and volunteering - this gives a deep sense of significance without the risk of gambling "sweetening."
2. Gamification of useful tasks
Use apps that turn study and sports into a "game" with internal achievements, points and levels.
Enter a family challenge: for completing real tasks (cleaning, reading), "coins" are awarded, which can be exchanged for incentives.
3. Joint activities
Periodic "gadget-free" weekends: hikes, picnics, board tournaments - strengthen family ties and reduce the desire to "win" online.
5. Support and early intervention
1. School psychologists and counselors
At the slightest sign of interest in betting (talking, observing sites), connect a specialist for a conversation in a confidential format.
2. Peer-support for teens
Form mutual assistance groups at a school or club: senior students and Gambler's Help volunteers conduct questionnaires and conversations, sharing their personal experience of avoiding gambling risks.
3. Youth hotlines
eheadspace. org. au (under 25) - chat and video support without mentioning a name.
Gambling Help Online Chat is an anonymous chat to urgently stop the desire to play.
Conclusion
Only a set of measures can prevent gambling at an early stage: the education system, family rules and dialogue, technical barriers and alternative activities. The involvement of parents, school services and access to specialized programs create a safe environment where excitement does not acquire attractiveness, and adolescents form conscious habits and resistance to risks.
