(Photo iillustration by Graeme Robertson/Getty Images)
OAN’s James Meyers
1:10 PM – Wednesday, November 22, 2023
A new study shows young adults are gambling more money than they can afford.
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The study done in Britain, showed that 42% of adults from the ages of 18 to 24 who had gambled in the past 12 months reported taking a financial risk to bet. 36% participants said they either borrowed money or sold personal possessions to be able to gamble.
The study was done by advocacy organization GambleAware, which describes itself as the “strategic commissioner of gambling harm education.”
CEO of GambleAware, Zoe Osmond, says that gambling is “a serious public health threat” and is continuing to grow.
Additionally, a large number of people involved in the study said they felt shame or guilt about their decision to gamble and 39% said they also experienced mental health problems due to their behavior.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, between 10% and 15% of teenagers have a significant gambling problem.
Close to 8% of people between the ages of 12 to 17 years old could be considered problem gamblers in the United States. Additionally, the average age of starting to gamble is an eye popping 10 years old.
“As a hidden addiction, gambling harms can be incredibly hard to spot from the outside,” said Osmond. “It is therefore critical that people impacted are aware of the wide range of support services available, and that they feel safe to come forward.”
“Anyone can be impacted by gambling harms, but the first step is to open up and have that first conversation, ideally as early as possible,” said Osmond.
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