| | |  | Last Updated: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |  | | | Gambling More Prone to Occur Among Scottish Children
- Tuesday, 8 Aug 2006
In Europe, Scottish children have one of the highest levels of underage gambling, according to a recent study. Researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University conducted a study and observed the gambling behavior of more than 2,000 children in west and central Scotland. They found almost one in ten were problem gamblers. A further 15 percent were deemed at-risk of developing a habit and children as young as 11 were found to be skipping school to play slot machines.
‘Fruit machines are seen as not problematic but it is dangerous because it is a learned behavior and if there is an award system, that learned behavior is reinforced,’ said Irene McLaughlin, the Scottish coordinator of counseling service, Gamecare. The figures for underage gambling among children in Scotland are considerably higher than the average for the rest of Europe and Britain. This is attributed, according to Crawford Moodie, the report’s author, to kids under the age of 16 being legally allowed to indulge in gambling on category D machines.
The situation in Scotland could pan out to be a major problem if not addressed and regulated in the proper way. Gambling is a very alluring activity and pastime, gaining popularity with every day that passes, and it seems to be making headway among young and underage gambling fans in this country. Perhaps the study will help make government officials aware of the problem and cause them to analyze it more closely, in order to instill proper regulatory rules for gambling fans. | |
| |
|
