Studies show that gambling patterns often begin by the age of eight. Given this reality, educators play a key role in helping their students understand the signs of problem gambling. The YMCA Youth Gambling Program provides free services including curriculum support, risk assessment, signs of problem Gambling and other services.

Curriculum support
In addressing the needs of youth between the ages of 8 and 24, the YMCA offers a series of educational packages that supports components of the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum.

• Introduce your students to the potential risks of gambling
• Provide information about gambling and the role probability plays in games of chance
• Help your students recognize the signs of problem gambling
• Help your students identify strategies to reduce the harm associated with gambling – including decision-making and coping strategies

Risk assessment
Through a series of YMCA-facilitated presentations and teacher led activities, we can help educators support the evaluation, observation, or assessment of individual student needs in the classroom as they relate to the gambling issue. Working together, our aim is to:

• Offer students accurate information about gambling and develop the skills to make informed life decisions around risk-taking behaviours 
• Create a general understanding of risk assessment and harm reduction strategies
• Discuss possible consequences of, and decisions relating to, gambling
• Give participants access to community resources and other local service providers that can help them with a potential gambling problem

Download the curriculum support packages now.

• Presentations to schools and organizations that work with youth and adults
• Educational workshops for parents, teachers, health professionals, and other agencies and organizations
• Referral to gambling treatment services

The YMCA takes a neutral position on gambling. We see it as an activity people may choose to engage in. Using harm reduction strategies, our aim is to provide the youth of our community with the skills they need to become happy, healthy, and productive adults.

• Loss of interest in other activities
• Being argumentative
• Feeling irritable and restless
• Feeling anxious, depressed, and/or suicidal
• Increased spending/chasing losses
• Increased alcohol or drug use
• Lying and stealing
• Promising to stop but continuing to gamble
• Money appearing and disappearing

For more information contact the YMCA in your area