The State : Teen Betting Rise Reported

Gambling among California teen-agers may have increased as much as 50% since the state lottery began in 1985, a study of two high schools in Riverside County suggests. Contributing to the problem, it was found, is lack of regulatory controls at lottery ticket outlets. The survey indicates that California teen-agers may be spending $10 million a year on gambling of all kinds. University of California research psychologist Durand Jacobs surveyed 320 students both before and after the lottery began. “The favorite bet of the students we looked at was the lottery,” said Jacobs, a member of the board of the California Council on Compulsive Gambling. Although students acknowledged “doing all sorts of gambling,” Jacobs said, “the lottery is one of the influences that led to that increase.” He declined to identify the two high schools. Lottery spokesman John Schade said he was “concerned” and would talk to the lottery’s security people about it.