Gambling should not be made legal because it proliferates youth gambling.
- Derevensky, Jeffrey L., and Rina Gupta. “Prevalence Estimates of Adolescent Gambling: A Comparison of the SOGS?RA, DSM?IV?J, and the GA 20 Questions.” Journal of Gambling Studies, vol. 16, no. 2/3, 2000, pp. 227-251.
Concerns over the rising prevalence of adolescent gambling problems have become more commonplace. A recent meta analysis of studies examining adolescent prevalence rates by Shaffer and Hall (1996) has suggested that between 77–83% of adolescents are engaging in some form of gambling behavior with between 9.9% and 14.2% of youth remaining at risk for a serious gambling problem. A study was done of 980 adolescents and about 6% have serious gambling problems with more than 4% being affected by gambling.
2. Shaffer, Howard & Hall,Matthew & Vander Bilt, Joni & George, Elizabeth. Futures At Stake: Youth, Gambling, And Society. Reno: University of Nevada Press, 2003.
Gambling should have its gambling age limit raised in the United States because of the irresponsibility of adolescents that simply can not make their own decisions in best interest. In addition to the possibility
of losing their money, gamblers also risk experiencing a variety of psychlogical,
social, and biological consequences. And exposing children to this type of abuse can proliferate it later in life, per research. Problem gambling strains the economy of society. Distracted from many
of the tasks of daily living, problem gamblers—adolescent and adult—are less productive
students, workers, and family members. In every aspect of daily living, problem
gamblers have less to give because some part of their being is preoccupied with
gambling or recovering from gambling-related debts.
3. Walker, Michael. “Compulsive Gambling Is Not an Addiction.” Gambling, edited by James D. Torr, Greenhaven Press, 2002. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Accessed 6 Nov. 2018. Originally published as “The Medicalisation of Gambling as an ‘Addiction,’,” Gambling Cultures: Studies in History and Interpretation, edited by Jan McMillen, Routledge, 1996.
But, gambling is not an addiction. It is a compulsive behavior that is up to humans to combat the temptation. As opposed to other vices like alcohol and drugs gambling does not give literal physical withdrawal symptoms. There is no shaking from gambling withdrawal as opposed to vodka that harms the body. So, youth gambling is something that parents simply have to do a better job of restricting. In this view, it is not a vice but more something that is a temptation.