GAMBLING’S growing influence among youth is a top focus for local welfare
agencies, with problem gamblers presenting at younger ages, according to
staff.
Responsible Gambling Awareness Week finished on Friday last week with
a range of support agencies at Barry Steggall Park, Tower Hill.
Among them
was Centacare counsellor Meagan McGregor, who said those seeking help were
increasingly younger.
“The total [problem gambling] figures aren’t changing a
lot… but those who are presenting are a lot younger,” she said.
The Victorian
Responsible Gambling Foundation has found a major expansion in social and online
gambling games targeting children as young as 12.
The availability of
gambling applications has grown with ubiquitous use of computers, smartphones or
tablets computers among adolescents.
For more on this story, see Monday’s edition of The Guardian (27/5/13).
