ABSTRACT
Gambling has become so engrained in the American landscape that it has become transparent-invisible. Legalized gambling is a socially acceptable, widely promoted activity. Movies, television shows, the widespread casino movement, and increased access to gaming through the Internet have increased the availability of gambling. Gambling on sporting events is an accepted part of sports. Schools, as part of society, reflect the American passion for gambling. Students play cards in the lunchroom or study halls, they play dice in the bathrooms or in the schoolyard, and educators either don't see it or ignore it. Many of the gambling studies conducted with young people and problem gambling show that the younger an individual is when they start, the more at risk they are of developing a gambling problem as adults. Youth gambling activities include sports betting, poker, other card games, crane games, dice, board games, pitching quarters, lottery, pull tabs, and Internet gambling.
