The conversation every parent and teen needs to have

Concerned gambling could be a problem for your teenager? A ‘surprising’ number of parents are — but nobody talks about it.

More than a third of Australian parents are concerned about their teenager and gambling, a new survey has found, but many are reluctant to discuss the issue.

The latest Royal Children’s Hospital National Child Health Poll found 39 per cent of Australian parents were worried about gambling being a current or future problem for at least one of their teenage children.

The survey, which quizzed more than 1100 parents about which, if any, of their children they were concerned for, found boys were chosen more often.

Four in ten teenage boys’ parents said they were concerned for them, compared to 33 per cent of girls, with dads (48 per cent) also more likely to be concerned about any child than mums (31 per cent).

Age was also a factor, and almost half of 16-year-olds’ parents said they were concerned.

Paediatrician and poll director Dr Anthea Rhodes said they also found that two thirds of parents concerned about online gaming for their child were also worried about gambling.

“Increasingly there are features in online gaming that are deliberately built and structured to actually mimic gambling type behaviours,” she said.

“Spending real money for things like loot boxes or tokens for an unknown outcome.”

She said despite parents’ concerns, 45 per cent reported they had never discussed gambling with their child - and she encouraged them to do so.

Many parents are reluctant to discuss gambling with their children, but experts encourage them to do so well before their teenager can place their first legal bet.

“Parents are aware of it, but they’re not really yet actually stepping up and having a chat about it,” she said.

“Start by talking to your young person about the things they might be seeing or trying.

“‘Do you realise that whilst you might hope to win, you have to expect to lose?’ and helping children to understand the idea of odds and failure is really important.”

Dr Rhodes encouraged parents to raise the topic in a non-confrontational setting - such as while walking the dog or in the car.

“Help build awareness as to what gambling is and how it might be part of everyday life,” she said.

“It’s never been easier to gamble, and our children are being exposed to it every day, from a very young age.”

She said problem gambling could have a similar effect on people to other addictions, and impact people’s emotional wellbeing, relationships, learning and education, sleep and physical health.

“It is very much a health issue,” she said.