It is estimated that there are more than 2,500 Internet gambling sites in the world. Many of these sites are unregulated, not controlled in terms of access and age restrictions, and it is illegal for Canadians to play on them.

• 94% of young people say they go online from home.¹
• Only 13% of children are supervised by a parent when they go online.¹
• 9% of high-school aged youth and 6% of university students reported gambling online for money. Of those individuals, 70% reported gambling online on a weekly basis.²
• Youth gambling often starts with sites that allow play for “fake money”. These sites condition young people to gambling behaviour and often lead to the desire to play for real money.
• Some studies have shown that that the average adult problem gambler started gambling at age 10.
• Many underage gamblers use their parents’ credit cards to play. Parents can be held legally responsible for paying these bills.

1. Young Canadians in a Wired World Phase II
2.  Internet Gambling Among Youth: A Preliminary Examination (Derevensky, Gupta and McBride - McGill University)