Parents of Belmont school students are invited to a discussion tomorrow night on the risks of youth gambling.
The forum, part of a regular parent education series, comes as the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling is promoting its new school-based curriculum.
The fear among educators is that some teenagers who start out playing popular poker games could turn into problem gamblers later in life.
Studies show a problem-gambling rate of 10 to 17 percent among students, about two or three times higher than among adults, said Margot Cahoon, council spokeswoman. The council estimates 78 percent of Massachusetts youth have placed a bet by the time they turn 18.
And in a survey of 91 schools in 2005, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association found 30 percent of its members responding indicated that gambling was an issue that needed to be addressed in their schools, according to the council.
No specific incident led to the Belmont forum, "You gotta know when to fold: What parents need to know about youth and gambling," said Erica Dinerman, prevention services coordinator for the school department. It is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the community room at Chenery Middle School.
"I'm not saying this is a rampant problem in Belmont by any means," she said. "I don't think there's a huge [gambling] addiction problem as opposed to anything else."
Still, while parents may see poker games as a good social activity for their children, Dinerman said she was inspired to raise the topic after reviewing the popularity of card games, computer games, and online gambling.
Dan Richardson, assistant principal at Belmont High School, who posted the youth-gambling forum on the school's online notice board, said he had not heard of any problems in the school community.
Regardless, he welcomed the forum to raise awareness.
"It's proactive, not reactive," he said.
At the session, a member of the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling speakers' bureau will talk about youth and gambling and the signs of when gambling becomes a problem.
In response to an increase in inquiries, the council last year published a pamphlet, "Students Know the Limit," which offers behavioral guidelines and educational resources for students and parents.
Cahoon said society is not educated on the risks of gambling to the same extent as the risks of alcohol and drug use, especially when it comes to teenagers.
The council is also taking steps to deal with gambling problems among youth, partly due to the popularity of televised poker games and publicity of large jackpots, according to Cahoon.
"We're getting more calls from parents and college administrators," she said. "We feel that poker is being glamorized."
Cahoon said the council is urging schools to develop gambling policies similar to those on tobacco and alcohol use.
