Gambling behavior of students in grades seven and eight in Alberta, Canada

This article reports results from a survey of gambling activities of seventh and eighth grade students in northeastern Alberta, Canada. Results confirmed that gambling practices are common among young adolescents. During the 12 months preceding the survey, virtually all respondents (98%) had gambled. Playing scratch tickets was the gambling activity most often played by young adolescents, followed by bingo. Boys were more likely than girls to engage in all forms of gambling activities. Sports betting and wagering on games of skill dimension were mostly male domains, whereas games of chance were female pursuits. Survey implications for public health officials are discussed.