Research in youth and college gambling is a priority for the ICRG. Studies indicate that most young people gamble on non-casino card games, games of skill and sports, not at casinos, where, in most jurisdictions, patrons must be 21 or older to place a bet. Nonetheless, this is still an issue that greatly concerns ICRG and the casino industry.
The ICRG participated in an international think tank to address youth gambling as a public health issue, and provided support for the dissemination of the middle-school curriculum, “Facing the Odds: The Mathematics of Gambling and Other Risks.” Developed by the Harvard Medical School faculty at the Division on Addictions with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the curriculum teaches statistics and probability in order to improve students’ ability to make informed choices when confronted with gambling opportunities.
In 2008, the ICRG published “Talking with Children about Gambling,” a research-based guide designed to help parents, as well as others who work with youth, deter children from gambling and recognize possible warning signs of problem gambling and other risky behaviors. The NCRG also launched its NCRG Task Force on College Gambling Policies in 2008. The Task Force released its recommendations in 2009.
In 2011, the ICRG launched CollegeGambling.org, which was developed to help colleges and universities address gambling and gambling-related harms on campus. CollegeGambling.org is a comprehensive resource for students, campus administrators, campus health professionals and parents and brings together the latest research and best practices in responsible gaming and the field of addiction awareness and prevention.
