Adolescent Gambling on a Great Lakes Indian Reservation

Adolescent Gambling: A Review of an Emerging Field of Research

“…One study reported that 10-12-years-old whites were more likely to gamble than youth of other ethnicities [53]. Given the rapid increase in the number of gambling venues on Native American reservations, it is surprising that only three studies were found that compared the gambling behaviors of American Indian and non-Indian adolescents [15,30,54] and one study compared Aboriginal and nonAboriginal adolescents in Canada [34].…”

“…Higher rates of alcohol and marijuana use, as well as parental gambling, predicted that the American Indians would gamble more often [54].…”

Environmental Correlates of Gambling Behavior in Urban Adolescents

“…Although there is a lack of consensus regarding descriptive terminology for adolescent problematic gambling, and extant instruments are not without controversy (e.g., Derevensky, Gupta, & Winters, 2003;Shaffer & Hall, 1996), between 4 to 7% of adolescents aged 12-17 years appear to meet the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling (e.g., Derevensky et al, 2003;Hardoon & Derevensky, 2002;Shaffer & Hall, 1996). These youth are classified as "problem" gamblers (Winters, Stinchfield, Botzet, & Anderson, 2002) and experience gambling-related problems including lower self-esteem (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998;Peacock, Day, & Peacock, 2000), depression (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998), and increased risk for suicidal thoughts and actions (Gupta & Derevensky, 1998;LanghinrichsenRohling, Rohde, Seeley, & Rohling, 2004). Considered "at-risk" for the development of serious gambling problems, an additional 10 to 14% of adolescents experience gambling-related consequences that may negatively impact their lives Hardoon & Derevensky, 2002;Shaffer & Hall, 1996).…”

Vulnerability and Gambling Addiction: Psychosocial Benchmarks and Avenues for Intervention

“…Although numerous studies reveal a certain trend towards an increased prevalence of gambling in the female demographic, the elderly and Aboriginal populations (National Council of Welfare 1996: 42), the problems appear to be most significant in young people Derevensky 1998, 2001;Peacock et al 1999). For some young people, gambling can be a rite of passage in groups where the inclusion/exclusion process is closely related to one's agreement to perform certain actions.…”