Education authorities are working to determine the impact of the growing gambling industry on the city's youth.
Yesterday officers from the Education and Youth Services Department (DSEJ) met with academics, regulators and counsellors to determine if the explosion in Macau's gaming industry is influencing the development of its children.
Research presented shows that there are a number of Macau's young that do have a gambling problem, however the situation is not yet out of control.
“There are signs that a number of young locals are being negatively impacted by the gaming industry, however you could not yet say that the problem is severe,” said Davis Fong from UMAC's Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming.
Research carried out by UMAC reveals approximately three percent of Macau's population of 13 to 29 year olds have what can be described as a gambling problem.
Some 30 of the 2,000 people called, or 1.5 percent, can be described as pathological gamblers, said professor Fong.
With the number of gambling options growing by the month in Macau, accompanied by inciting dining and entertainment options, authorities are expecting the lure of the casino tables to grow.
With less life experience and education the young are more vulnerable to the negative effects of gambling.
Based on his findings, professor Fong suggests 13 to 29 year can be divided into three groups.
Along these lines schools should begin a program for each group to prevent gambling problems occurring and help correct those with existing disorders, he suggested at yesterday's meeting.
A large group described as “low risk” comprise 42 percent of those surveyed. Members of this group have not gambled in the last 12 months and claim to have no interest in it. This group should be given strong support to continue their lifestyle, said professor Fong.
“Their education message should be: if you don't want to gamble, then don't,” he said.
The majority belonged to the “risky group”, those that gambled at least once in the last year. The 43 percent of respondents tended to treat gambling as a form of entertainment. Although they do not display signs of a pathological gambling problem, the danger is that they will develop a problem.
This group needs education on the mathematics of gambling, said professor Fong.
“They need to be protected from going further with gambling,” he said.
“They should be shown that in the long run you will always lose.”
The suggested preventative strategy also uses the group's current attitude about the hobby.
“The difference between fun or not-fun needs to be demonstrated,” said professor Fong.
“The education should include the message that when you are addicted to gambling it is no fun at all.”
High risk
Concrete action is required for 300 of the 2,000 participants in the research. Fifteen percent of 13 to 29 year olds showed early signs of developing a gambling problem. To make the diagnosis, the UMAC researchers used the USA developed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, or DSM4 index. The method classifies those showing five or more of 10 criteria as pathological gamblers.
The criteria includes traits such as a preoccupation with gambling, repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, cut back, or stop gambling and returning after losing money to get even.
The best way to identify and help this group is to use the school system, suggests professor Fong.
“As many are studying at schools we need to develop a reporting mechanism so that these students can get help,” he said.
An example of a suitable system presented by the professor includes a mechanism where-by unusual behaviour is noted and even reported.
“If a student is caught stealing, is suddenly not performing so well at school and a sports betting ticket is found on their desk, then that would be a good indicator that the student may have a problem,” said professor Fong.
The proposed monitoring system would require the teacher to report the student to a social worker. The case would then be assessed and the student referred to a treatment centre if definite help was required.
The DSEJ is working on developing such a system, said spokesperson Lok Lai Kun after yesterday's meeting.
The department currently employs or sponsors a team of counsellors that helped 51 students in Macau's schools last year.
However teachers do not currently have a list of suspicious behaviour to follow and are not required to report students suspected of gambling.
The department also plans to include gambling education in the school curriculum and is working on a set of teaching materials it hopes will be finished next year, said Ms Lok. A television and radio campaign is also planned which will attempt to show the possible negative effects of gambling.
In addition a draft of a law to increase the age limit for gambling to 21 is being worked on which the DSEJ hopes to hand to the government later in the year.
Impact
Further data presented at yesterday's meeting showed that the impact pathological gamblers have on the community may not be as pronounced in Macau as other regions.
It has been shown in the USA and Canada that the behaviour of a pathological gambler will influence the lives of at least seven friends and relatives.
UMAC's telephone survey reported that less than five people are influenced by the SAR's addicted gamblers. However locals could be keeping the extent of the problem to themselves.
“This is a traditional Chinese community that has a strong social or family net,” said professor Fong.
“This means that family members will help, but may not talk to others about the problem.”
Those affected by a pathological gambler were asked to rate the level of impact on an increasing scale of 1 to 5. The outcome was 2.7
“If the numbers are in fact true the actual impact problems gamblers are having on others is not as serious as we expected,” said professor Fong.
Drop-out rate
The number of students that are dropping out of school to work in a casino is also not alarmingly high, participants in yesterday's discussion were told.
Approximately 700 students quit school before finishing high school during the last education year. Of those only a maximum of 35 percent went to work in a casino.
“We know that the number of drop outs is increasing but at the moment those finishing school early to work in a casino is low, compared with the total number of students.”
During the 2005/2006 school year, there were 43,751 students enrolled in a secondary school.
Closing yesterday's meeting, the chairman, Chui Sai On, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture said “the debate and exchange had favoured ... boosting the work of prevention ...(and) promoting the integral development of young people ... to ensure that the new generation can grow in a healthy and safe social environment.” |
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