The main purpose of this study was to assess the level of problematic gambling among adolescents in Washington State in 1999. This information is vital in understanding the evolution of problem gambling among all Washington State residents as well as in refining services for adolescents who experience difficulties related to their gambling. The results of this study show that significant numbers of Washington State adolescents continue gamble, that these activities are widely accepted by adolescents and their families, and that most adolescents spend only small to moderate amounts of money on gambling. The study also shows that there continues to be a small but significant proportion of Washington State adolescents who experience severe difficulties related to their gambling.
Adolescents represent a generation for whom legal gambling has been available all their lives.
However, young people are unlikely to have developed skills and strategies to manage their gambling and avoid financial and personal difficulties. While efforts to control the prevalence of gambling problems among Washington State adults and adolescents appear to be working effectively, Washington State may wish to consider implementing additional efforts to minimize the negative impacts caused by gambling among adolescents. Among adolescents who have gambled, the favorite types of gambling are wagering on card, dice or board games with friends or family, games of personal skill and sports. Male adolescents and those who identify themselves as Black or Other are more likely than female adolescents and those who identify themselves as White or Hispanic to gamble weekly. Adolescents aged 16 and 17 are more likely to gamble weekly than younger adolescents.