Individuals should not gamble if they are underage, using impairing substances, or neglecting other responsibilities due to gambling. For those who choose to gamble, they should maintain balance, set spending limits, never borrow money to gamble, assess their motivations for gambling, and recognize that winning depends on luck and the longer one plays the more money that will be lost. Help is available for those struggling with gambling problems.

1. Grade 8 | Unit 8.5 | Page 9
Unit 8.5
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SHOULD I GAMBLE OR NOT?
There are times when a person should not gamble at all:
• When an individual is under the legal gambling age, 18.
• When using substances that impair decisions or alter moods, e.g. alcohol
or drugs.
• When other people or responsibilities are being neglected as a result of
the gambling.
• When the gambling activity is illegal.
People who after careful consideration still choose to gamble should keep the
following guidelines in mind:
• Maintain balance.
• Set limits.
• Never borrow money to gamble.
• Assess your reasons for gambling.
• Know that gambling is not essential for having a good time.
• Know that you cannot control the selection process of the outcome of a
game of chance. Winning is a matter of luck.
• Recognize that the longer you play, the more it will cost you.
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Consolidation:
Are you now able to:
• Outline how to make responsible decisions about risky behaviour like
gambling?
• Assess your own risky circumstances?
• Discuss the probability of winning (and losing!) in games of chance?
• Distinguish between the different levels of control you have over decision-
making processes, over risky circumstances in which you find yourself, and
over the selection process of outcomes in games of chance?
• Know where to seek help for a gambling problem?