Youth Gambling Abuse: Issues and Challenges to Counselling

YOUTH GAMBLING ABUSE: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES TO COUNSELLING

BY
TOYOBO, O. M. Ph.D [e-mail] &

JIBOKU, A.O. (MRS) [e-mail] Department of Educational Psychology,
Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu, Ogun State.

ABSRTACT

In recent times the global world has witnessed an upsurge of gambling activities, increased participation in gambling activities and gambling related problems. Research has shown that the nation’s economy is at a threat and youth and children are at an increased risk for the development of gambling related problems. There is a significant amount of evidence that suggest that youths are actively participating in both legal and illegal forms of gambling. The proliferation of gambling activities in the country is not without its social, personal and economic cost. It has reduced creativity and innovation that is needed to promote the socio-economic development of the nation. Prevention and intervention programmes should be mounted by counselling psychologists to reduce the upsurge of gambling activities and its attendant effects on youth behaviour.

Introduction

In recent times the global World has witnessed an upsurge of gambling activities, increased participation in gambling activities and gambling related problems. Research has shown that the nation’s economy is at a threat and youth and children are at an increased with risk for the development of gambling related problems. There is a significant amount of evidence that suggest that youths are actively participating in both legal and illegal forms of gambling. The proliferation of gambling activities in the country is not without its social, personal and economic costs. It has reduced creativity and innovation that is needed to promote the socio-economic development of the nation. In 1928, Freud published an essay about the pathological gambling of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the Russian author who wrote a novel

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