Study: A third of teens in Oregon are into free online gambling
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A survey just released shows that the most popular gambling activity among teens in Oregon is free online gambling.
The study was hailed as both positive and negative. While some considered it good that teens are gambling more for free than with real money, it is a concern as a gateway to riskier gambling behavior later in life.
According to a story at the Eugene Statesman-Journal:
The survey, commissioned by DHS last year, found that 33 percent of youths ages 12 to 17 — an estimated 94,659 teens — gamble online for free.
It’s an activity that is convenient and easily accessible, officials say, because it can be done at home at any time, often under no supervision from parents. Its novelty, high level of stimulation and low level of physical exertion also appeal to youths, many of whom are tech-savvy.
Whole thing here.
Oregon last did a survey like this in 1998. Free online gambling was not included in that survey, and betting on card games such as poker was the top gambling activity among teens 10 years ago, according to the story.
Less than 1% of teens surveyed gambled online for real money.
