Youth Gambling Awareness Program - YGAP

What is YGAP?

YGAP is a gambling awareness program that helps empower youth to make healthy choices when it comes to gambling and other high-risk activities. The activities of the program include awareness raising workshops for youth 8-24 and professionals working who work with youth, community involvement events, and youth engagement projects.

The goal of the YGAP is to implement educational prevention programs designed to raise youth awareness with regards to gambling, healthy/active living and making informed decisions.

Did you know?

• 90% of Windsor adolescents gamble 8% were found to have a gambling problem (Govini, Rupcich & Frisch 1996).
• 85-90% of Canadian youth gamble (Derevensky & Gupta 2000).
• Problem gambling patterns can begin as young as 8 years old (Derevensky & Gupta 1998).
• Youth are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop a gambling problem than adults (http://www.adstv.on.ca/youth_gambling.htm).

Signs of Problem Gambling:

• Being criticized about your gambling
• Spending too much time or money gambling than intended
• Lying or stealing to pay back debts
• Increased spending or chasing your losses
• Losing interest in other activities
• Letting school suffer because you can’t pay attention in class

If You Choose to Gamble, Remember:

1. Gamble with others and set time limits
2. Hope to win, but expect to lose
3. Have a Plan B – continue to do other activities you enjoy
4. Alcohol and gambling do not mix
5. Don’t carry more money or valuables than you are prepared to lose
6. Gambling is entertainment that has a cost
7. You can’t solve your problems by gambling
8. Losing a game does not change who you are

To learn more about YGAP or to BOOK A WORKSHOP, contact your local Youth Outreach Worker at:

519-256-7330 ext. 238
1-877-525-5515 ext. 4039
windsor@ymca.ca

If you are concerned about a gambling problem, check out the following websites for more information and referral agencies:

Windsor Regional Hospital Problem Gambling Services
http://www.wrh.on.ca/Site_Published/wrh_internet...

Gamblers Anonymous
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/

Responsible Gambling Council of Ontario
www.responsiblegambling.org

Teen Health Centre
www.teenhealthcentre.com

Kids Help Phone
kidshelp.sympatico.ca

Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline
http://www.opgh.on.ca/index.html

www.youthbet.net

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