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A recent survey found that gambling online among college age males has risen 14 percent over the last two years. The economic crisis seems to have had little negative impact on the gambling habits of those in this particular group.
1.7 million U.S. males aged 18 to 22 gamble online at least once a month, researchers estimate.
The national telephone survey, conducted by the Annenberg Adolescent Communication Institute (ACI) at the University of Pennsylvania, included 835 respondents in 2008 and 596 respondents in 2010. Their ages were 14 to 22.
One troubling statistic: Online gambling among High School aged girls had increased from 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent. The age range surveyed was between 14 to 17 years old.
The survey does not reveal if real cash was used among this group as the majority of online poker players often do so for free, and many might still constitute this as “gambling”.
Most of the reputable online gambling sites have stringent safeguards in place to prevent underage gambling, including credit card age verification and proof of residency via driver’s license and utility bills. Still, no system is foolproof. – Jagajeet Chiba reporting for Gambling911.com.
