Three in 10 B.C. teens are participating in gambling or gaming behaviours that may become addictive, according to a recent report.
The McCreary Centre Society has published a report that draws on data from the 2023 Adolescent Health Survey, which includes more than 38,000 youth in the province aged 12 to 18. The survey is completed in B.C. every five years.
It found that 34 percent had engaged in gambling or gaming activities for money in the 12 months preceding the survey.
Researchers looked at eight types of activities, including gaming purchases, buying lottery or scratch tickets, and online sports betting.
Eleven percent of teens reported playing cards or dice in person, compared to 8 percent in 2018. Another 5 percent reported playing cards or dice online, compared to 2 percent five years earlier….