Micah Hartland is a Year 11 student at BSSC, and recently studied the effects of gambling in his Intermediate VCAL class. Micah wrote the following piece as part of his Literacy assessment:
How gambling affects
Gambling is a big part of society. Things like the pokies, the lotto, betting agencies, horse racing, etc. are wrecking people’s lives by wasting their money on them. 95% of kids can name or see gambling in society and 5% of them gamble themselves.
Gambling affects families and their children when they think that betting is okay. Parents should keep an eye on their kid’s habits and make sure they don’t gamble. Schools should do a lot more to teach that gambling is bad. Parents should influence and support their kids to make positive choices.
The pokies are a big part of gambling. They are found at pubs and restaurants and are clearly visible to kids when they walk past, and seem like a fun game.
The stress of gambling problems sometimes causes health problems, for both the person who gambles and the family. This can include anxiety, depression and stress-related problems.
Gambling is playing a big part in sports lover’s lives, betting on horses, greyhounds, AFL, etc. Betting companies such as Ladbrokes, Sports bet, UBET, and William Hill are some of the most used betting agencies in Australia. Below are some gambling tips to share with your children so they don’t wreck their lives.
- Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
- Set a spending limit in advance.
- Set a time limit in advance.
- Don’t drink or use drugs when gambling.
- Take a break.
- Don’t gamble when you’re depressed or upset.
- Think of gambling as entertainment, not a way to make money.
- Put away all your winnings.
