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10 percent of young boys have gambled before the age of 16, a shocking study commissioned by the University of Tasmania education faculty revealed on Monday. Subjects 14 to 17-year-old across Tasmania were used as part of gambling study Weighing up the Odds.
"Toy gambling games and friends were listed as influences encouraging young people to gamble, while teachers and family were listed as strong influences against gambling," Tasmania's Human Services Minister Cassy O'Connor said.
"It was also concerning to see many young people didn't understand the concept of the 'house edge', the built-in element of commercial gambling that ensures gamblers will lose over time."
Independent Denison MP Andrew Wilkie claimed that fewer than one in 10 study participants said they had encountered gambling education at school.
"It's now not unusual for children, instead of talking about their football team's form, they talk about their team's odds" he said.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
