Despite the addictive and financial harms of gambling that many experience and witness, young people still travel to the nearest Saskatchewan casino to hit the slots as soon as they turn 19-years-old. Some are even too eager for the wait.
“After my eighteenth birthday, I took a trip to Calgary with my friends where I one hundred per cent knew I was going to gamble,” said Payton Haniak, a Saskatchewan resident. “Seeing everybody else play the VLTs made me want to try them out. Their brightness and colour is what got me hooked.”
Surrounding provinces Alberta and Manitoba have a legal gambling age of 18-years-old, while Saskatchewan’s remains at 19-years-old.
“We’ve seen lots of younger people that come in, especially every weekend after the bars close down to get food and gamble,” said a guest services employee at the Casino Regina. “It’s always been steady for younger people.”
The aesthetic of a casino is not the only thing drawing in gamblers of the new generation.
“I kept losing money while everyone around me was winning,” said Maliyah Leviste, who never expected she would partake in the risks of gambling at such a young age. “I felt the need to win too. I have a competitive side, so I kept going until I won more than everyone else.”
According to the Saskatchewan Problem Gambling Helpline (SPGH), there are approximately 44,527 moderate risk and problem gamblers in Saskatchewan based on the adult population at the time of their last prevalence study. These are people who continue to repetitively gamble even when it negatively affects their health, relationships, and finances. Young people seem to be more aware of where their new hobby could lead them and choose to be wise about their decisions at the casino.
“I went for the first time about a month ago, and I won about $715 on roulette,” said Robert Iglesias, a Saskatchewan resident. “But I am not eager to test my luck again. I would like to limit myself to once a month at most.”
Based on facts acquired from the SPGH, Saskatchewan residents aged 18 and over spend an average of $799 per year on government operated gambling, which is the highest in the country with the Canadian average being $535 per adult. Although the known facts are based on adults of all ages, the casino being a popular hangout spot after the bar shows how young age groups contribute to these statistics.
“I know it’s a bad idea, but I always end up at the casino as an after the bar adventure,” said Leviste.
Luckily, the plan for some of these young adults is to keep their new interest at a level of personal enjoyment.
“I plan to keep my gambling at a minimum and only do it socially because I see how it can become a problem,” said Haniak.
The Gamblers Anonymous Saskatchewan phone number is 1-855-781-9522, and they also hold weekly meetings in several Saskatchewan locations. The Saskatchewan Problem Gambling Helpline phone number is 1-800-306-6789, where they provide free and confidential support on gambling addiction.
