Gambling - a vice that hurts children
Would you be surprised to learn that children as young as nine are gambling, and doing so at the cost of their education?
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Indeed, a large number of children are involved in gambling right here in Ghana, where children are prohibited from doing so.
The laws of this country frown on children below 18 years getting involved in gambling. It is an activity reserved for adults.
Sadly, gambling is fast winning over children who are often enticed with making some quick money and it has, therefore, become necessary to create sustained awareness of this vice since children indulging in it might not be aware of the negative implications on their lives in future.
In our communities and localities, there are a number of children who pay to compete on slot machines or jackpots installed at various locations in their neighbourhoods. Obviously, those children do so with the purpose of making some money.
Very often, as children grow up they engage in betting with friends to win sweets, goodies or something little from their pals or play games at funfairs to win toys— that is the closest a child can come to gambling but for children to play truant with the sole purpose of gambling to make money requires serious monitoring so as to nip the bad practice in the bud before it forms part of their character.
When children are born to gambling parents there is an innocent but disturbing trend which often draws such children to the practice. The situations where adults send their children to stake lotto for them slowly, but gradually, makes the children aware of gambling, especially when the practice brings in money and instantly positively changes the situation of the family.
What is gambling?
But what is gambling? Gambling, according to kids health.org, occurs when a person participates in any activity where money or some kind of good is spent with hopes of netting a reward such as more money. Winning and losing at gambling often comes down to chance. There are different types of gambling but the most common ones young people engage in are the slot machines, lotteries, betting on sports, card games, scratch cards and online casinos.
In Ghana, these activities are referred to as games of chance and there are three types, namely casino operator, sports betting and route operation. The slot machine or jackpot falls under the route operation.
Is it legal for children to gamble?
In an interview with the Public Affairs Manager of the Gaming Commission of Ghana, Ms Beatrice Baiden, she said it was illegal for children to engage in any game of chance. Quoting the law, she stated that the Gaming Act 2006, Act 721, states among others that “persons below 18 are not supposed to access any gaming facility or engage in gaming activity; which means that even the operators of these slot machines and jackpots are not permitted by law to allow children to access the places they operate them.”
“That is why the law enjoins the operators to run the game machines in an enclosed facility in order to ensure that children do not enter such facilities to access them,” she pointed out.
Why shouldn't children gamble?
What every child should know is that even adults who are permitted by law to gamble do not have it easy in life, since it is addictive and can mar an otherwise promising future of participants.
Children are immature so those who gamble may suffer the following:
- Stealing: Since you do not earn any income to engage in gambling, you may end up stealing and lying to acquire money so that you could engage in gambling.
- Young people who gamble may lose interest in school, work and other important activities. The story about some children at Sankubenase in the Atiwa District in the Eastern Region, which was published in the last week’s edition of the Junior Graphic, who have abandoned school in order to gamble is one of such negative effects of children engaging in gambling.
- Since you are too young, you may not be able to bear the loses associated with gambling and this could lead to depression and anger, among others.
- As one continues to steal in order to gamble, such children are likely to lose some friends as well as family members, since nobody is prepared to associate with a thief.
- Children who gamble should know that they can grow up to become addicted to the act. It is a serious issue, as the addiction could serve as a gateway for other vices such as drug abuse and addiction.
Advise
Ms Baiden advised children against gambling since “it is not a game for children.” therefore children should desist from it. “It is not in any child's interest to skip school to patronise any game of chance whatsoever Focus on your education,” she advised.
She, therefore, entreated parents, teachers and the general public to play their roles in protecting children by ensuring that they do not participate in any game of chance.
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