(WANE, Fort Wayne)
There's a new trend emerging, teenage boys becoming card sharks. More and more of them are playing the popular poker game "Texas Hold 'Em." For a group of Snider High School teens it's become a weekly ritual. Jeremy Screeton and Kurt Sanders are both 15-years-old. They got interested by watching ESPN's drama "TILT" and The World Series of Poker. They say it's just something fun to do and not an addiction. Experts say they could be taking a chance, research shows 4 to 8 percent of teens could develop a serious problem. Brent Stackler with ParkCenter cautions parents if they aren't discouraging the game then at least monitor it. "If teen really preoccupied with winning and excitement and not just playing for fun that might be an indication they shouldn't play because they have a problem." The North American Training Institute, an education institute specializing in youth and gambling addiction, has developed a list of questions. It's designed to help parents and teens identify signs of a gambling problem, click here for a link to NATI website. Here's some sample questions.
- Do you prevent your family and friends from knowing how much you play poker?
- Do you play poker with money that is supposed to be used for other reasons likes lunches, clothing and saving for college?
- Is poker the main source of what you do to feel good about yourself?
- Do you ever lie about whether you play poker or how much you lose?
- Do you miss school or other important events due to gambling?
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