Youth Gambling Awareness Program
The Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP) is a free service offering educational prevention programs designed to raise youth awareness with regards to gambling, healthy/active living and making informed decisions.
Youth today are the first generation to grow up in a society where gambling is actively promoted, legalized and glamorized and participation in internet gambling has steadily increased among young adults. Youth are less likely to get involved in problematic behaviours if their coping strategies are enhanced and the good news is we can help.
Together with the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, the YMCA believes educational awareness raising programs are essential to enhancing personal development and creating healthier communities. Through fun, interactive workshops YGAP provides youth with information that will help them make informed choices around gambling and other high-risk behaviours.
Signs of problem gambling
- Letting school or work suffer due to preoccupation with gambling
- Spending more time or money than intended
- Losing interest in other activities
- Being criticized by others about gambling behaviour
- Borrowing, lying or stealing to gamble or pay back debts
- Increased interest in internet gambling sites, ports results or TV poker
- Money appearing and disappearing
Teachers and Educators
Educators play a key role in helping their students understand the signs of problem gambling. In addressing the needs of youth between the ages of 8 and 24, the YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program offers a series of educational workshops/presentations. These workshops introduce students to the potential risks of gambling, provide information about gambling and the role probability plays in games of chance and helps students recognize the signs of a problem.
Contact Us
If you would like learn more about YGAP or book a workshop or presentation please contact our Youth Outreach Worker.
Phone: 519-371-9230
Email: gambling@osgb.ymca.ca
Our YGAP Youth Outreach Worker organized a harm-reduction mural project at the Alpha Street complex in Owen Sound. This project allowed the community to come together to brighten up the complex while learning harm reduction strategies as well as healthy choices.
