Thoughs on kids and online gambling?

[rjcon]

Reading about all of this legislation against online gambling gets me really thinking about the whole issue of kids and gambling. Politicians want to penalize these online sites in part because of their ideas/fears/issues of kids getting online and going to these gambling sites. Do you think that really happens a whole lot? I don't think it really does, but I also don't think it is my problem--or the government's. Parents need to stop their kids from gambling before they are of age to do so--not the government. I'm tired of the politicians thinking that they need to step into everything and decide everything, when in reality it should be the parents deciding.

[MasterMind]

I must agree with your thoughts on politicians trying to rule our homes.

When I read the brief history of 19-year-old Greg Hogan, Jr. in this document, I thought that politicians were concerned about youth and gambling, but kids?

tha is a parents responsability indeed

[penguinmama]

As a parent of a 13yo, I have no problem playing online poker (for play money) with my son. He enjoys it, and so do I. We have also bought him one of those cheap poker sets that comes with the case, and chips, and cards... and we play at the kitchen table as well.

I do not foresee this child becoming a compulsive gambler. I think that whether or not he plays NOW (for play, not for cash) should be up to *me* and his dad, and *us* only.

[pokerwhiz]

I agree with Penguin. My kids (and grandkids) all grew up with learning how to play Blackjack. Not, I might add, for the gambling aspect, but it was a "fun" way for them to learn how to add quickly. They improved their math skills fast, and didn't think of it as studying.

Used correctly, and not for money, kids can learn and benefit. They would get angry at times when they would constantly lose... taught them that not all gambling games have a good outcome. Good reenforcement that there is a negative side to cards. They grew up, my kids at least, and do gamble, with control, and are far from addicted.

[r8rpwr]

I agree with Penguin as well. My dad taught me to play blackjack when I was very young, and I'm sure he didn't consider that corrupting my innocence.

Of course, that was before the internet. It's a whole different world, for sure, but I really think parents should take a more active role in what their kids do online. We don't have children yet, but we agree that any online access should be in a public space (office as opposed to bedroom). I don't have any intention of reading my kids' personal emails and such, but I think in general online activity should be such that it's appropriate for anyone to see; otherwise, we shouldn't be doing it.

So, I don't agree at all with this law. I'm not a big conspiracy theorist or privacy zealot, but this is just silly.

[sunshine]

I agree it is the parents job to see what their children are doing online. But even the best of parents cant watch their children's every move. Especially if the child is older and has their own computer. I think that parents should really pay more attention to what their children are doing on the internet these days.

[CardChick]

This is a parenting issue, plain and simple. People who want online poker outlawed so their kids won't get into trouble, need to spend more time instilling their own values in their kids rather than expecting someone else to do it for them.

And I just have to say, to get in trouble online, wouldn't you have to have a credit card? What are these kids doing with credit cards or access to them? Again, a parenting issue.

I'm fairly conservative socially, and even I don't think it's the government's business to protect kids from online gambling when their own parents won't take responsibility for them. Hmph!