Studies show Student Gambling Rising

A recent research project found that more then half of today's students have gambled at least once in the last year while playing poker for money.  The Education Department's Youth Gambling Research Project found that the numbers of students that are between the ages of 12 and 17 that gambled every week dropped from 15 percent in to 2001 to a low 6 percent last year but that more than 56 percent gambled at least once last year. 

This is compared to 62 percent from six years earlier, but during the same time period the numbers of students playing cards for money went from 20 to 27 percent.  There is speculation that the growth in students playing is attributed to rise of tv shows and movies that show gambling.  This Project surveyed 3000 students who were 12 to 17 from six metropolitan and regional secondary schools.

The study also proved that males are more likely to gamble than females and that Indigenous students are four times more likely to become problem gamblers.  Since 2004 the education department has implemented programs to teach students the dangers of becoming addicted to gambling.