It’s no secret Boca Raton is one of the richest cities in Florida. Palm Beach County is among the five wealthiest counties in the entirety of Florida, after all. Our city boasts a myriad of both gated and non-gated communities, several quite close to Olympic Heights High School.  Oftentimes, these expensive developments include many amenities, specifically a clubhouse, which provide ample areas for residents – including teens – to socialize and meet their neighbors and make new friends. They can take advantage of what the clubhouse has to offer – typically a pool, gym, kids room, or even an arcade game room.

So how do Boca high school students enjoy their luxurious communities?  One answer to this question involves the neighborhood clubhouse, but not for relaxation by the pool or activity on a tennis court.   

Most clubhouses have a card room, ostensibly for adults only.  As they are often bleak and uninteresting looking, the card rooms at first glance are perhaps the most boring place for a group of teens to hang out, though this is where games of poker, run by teens, often take place. 

A card game can at first seem harmless, and in some cases, is. Teens may get a group of their friends together to play poker or blackjack without any wagers just for the sake of fun; however, more times than not, money is involved, and participants can potentially develop an addiction to the highs of the wins and the lows of the losses. Because Boca Raton is a wealthy area, the teens gambling money can possibly wager hundreds of dollars each poker night – and potentially lose it all in an instant. One Olympic Heights student was not so lucky at a recent poker game.  “I lost everything,” recalled an Olympic Heights junior who wished to remain anonymous.  This student reported losing all that he put in – about $20 in one night.  Though seemingly a small amount, over time, losses can add up quickly, which can fuel a need to keep trying to win to recoup losses. This particular student reported that he only gambles occasionally, but students, including those from nearby high schools, gamble on a more frequent basis.    

According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, around 4-5% of teens 12-17 years old have a gambling problem. “Gambling is a widespread fact of life among Middle and High School students in Florida. More than half of the students surveyed reported gambling during the last 12 months,” wrote Dr. Louis Lieberman in a study on middle and high school students’ gambling habits. Evidently, it is not just a small subsection of teens participating in gambling. When a security guard at the Lotus clubhouse in Boca Raton was asked about the frequency of teenagers he sees playing poker in the clubhouse, he replied, “All the time.” He noted that these are “pretty big groups too [and] then they all call their friends and their friends come join in.”

What can be done to curb this troubling trend? Parents should stay vigilant to make sure their child is not engaging in gambling involving money, especially in large sums. They should not be the only ones on the watch out, as clubhouse security guards or other authority should be aware as well. Finally, teens themselves should be educated on the risks and practice safe card gaming, ideally with no items of value involved. Instead, they can be subbed out by other items, such as poker chips with no value tied to them or even candy. 

According to raisingchildren.net, some warning signs of gambling include:

1. Sudden changes in the amount of money your child has or your child is often short of money or asks to borrow money frequently
2. A new focus on sports odds instead of the sport itself
3. Secrecy about gambling or denial that there’s a problem
4. Positive attitudes towards gambling, or a preoccupation with video arcades, internet gambling sites, sports results or TV poker, or simulated gambling apps or games

The American Psychological Association reports that “young people, especially boys and men, are among those particularly vulnerable to gambling addiction.”  The prefrontal cortex, which regulates impulsivity and decision-making, is particularly late to develop, especially in boys. Even though he lost, the same anonymous OH student reported that he would gamble again.  His alarming response indicates that an addiction to gambling could be looming in this young man’s future.

Gambling addiction is nothing to be taken lightly, and with safe practices and awareness, it can be avoided.  If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling addiction, call 1-800-522-4700 or 1-800-GAMBLER to reach the national problem gambling helpline.