CBC produces a documentary about gambling youngsters.

We all know the dangers of gambling addiction but what many may not have realized is that the youngsters of today are probably the first generation to have online casinos available at the touch of a button and computers and internet in every home all of which adds to a potential problem. Couple this with heavy advertising and televised poker tournaments and you can quickly realize the attraction to a world of excitement and the possibility to make some real money. CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Company) in association with Eyesteel Film is however the first to make a documentary about the potential problem by studying three youths between 14 and 21 years old and their gambling habits. The film called “Gambling Boys” may never make it outside Canada which might be a shame. The youngest of the trio loves to play poker and if it wasn’t for his mother limiting the time he is allowed to play would be on all day and night. The middle boy is 18 and is addicted to sports betting and is reported to wager up to $10.000 per day but he got into difficulties and is now in rehab. A familiar story is that his mother was worried about drugs and alcohol but never about gambling. The oldest boy lost two years of school due to poker addiction spending all day and night playing instead of attending classes. He is now back at school taking an accountancy course but still gambles. This is a stark lesson to all parents to be watchful about online gambling by teenagers; in principle there is nothing wrong with the excitement and the challenge of winning but control is everything.