Program strives to help teens kick gambling habit

This week, Youth Eastside Services launched the first state-funded program to help teens battle gambling addiction.

The program is funded by a new tax approved last year by the Legislature to pay for prevention and treatment of problem gamblers. The tax is paid by the Washington Lottery, Washington Horseracing Commission and groups with recreational gaming licenses.

So far, much of the state's information about teen gambling addiction is anecdotal, said Linda Graves, problem gambling program manager for the state's Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse. The division operates the Washington State Problem Gambling Program.

The most recent study in 1999 found that 1 percent of students ages 12-17 were problem gamblers and that an additional 0.7 percent were at risk to become gamblers, Graves said.

The numbers have likely risen over the years, given the prevalence of online gambling and the popularity of TV shows such as "Celebrity Poker Showdown," Graves said.

One of the biggest problems with identifying teenage gambling addicts is that many parents don't consider gambling a true addiction, Graves said.

"Parents let their kids play Texas Hold'em as a recreational activity," Graves said. "For most kids, they aren't going to get into trouble. But for some, it could be a trigger or a gateway activity for a worse problem later on. Why let your kids engage in a risky behavior?"

Detecting problem gambling in young people is also a challenge.

There's no "pee test" for gambling as there is for drug use, noted Chris Sogn prevention and intervention specialist at Youth Eastside Services (YES).

The YES program will counsel teens and parents on gambling addiction, working with the youth to cope with cravings and depression, and teaching parents how to take control of their teen's money.

Gambling addiction is similar to drug and alcohol addiction in many ways, with teens struggling to hide it from parents, and often using it as a way to escape or to get a rush, Sogn said.

"Kids who are competitive may think, 'I can make this work and it's a way I can make money without working at McDonald's,' " she said.

Rachel Tuinstra: 206-515-5637 or rtuinstra@seattletimes.com