By DANIEL LANNON
Susquehannock High School
Well, that’s it. March Madness is over! All the nail-biting, same-jersey-wearing, bracket mania is over. It’s finally time to count up all your winnings from the NCAA tourney — but that’s exactly the problem.
Gambling has become the norm in the U.S. Everyone seems to bet on anything in his or her sight. The NCAA tournament has, for years, drawn huge attention to bracket making. And what has come out of it? Gambling on a fan’s favorite team. Trouble is, teens are caught up in the midst of this gambling problem.
All over schools, for the past couple of weeks, kids have been passing around brackets and placing more bets. The fact of the matter is that gambling is a nasty habit that can get someone in serious trouble if they’re not careful.
Another problem is the poker fad. More and more kids are picking up on winnings from poker and other card games between other teens. Kids make a night out of gambling at high stakes in a kid’s basement or kitchen. Teens pick up on poker from other kids and TV shows such as “The World Poker Tour,� which shows the excitement of having the right hands and earning huge winnings.
The problem is parents are doing nothing to stop it. More and more kids at younger ages are gambling and betting on a regular basis. Parents need to control their kids and put a stop to this gambling fad.
Gambling is an addiction. Once you get that first big payoff, you’re hooked. Parents and teens need to realize what kind of bad habits are being instilled. Realize what kind of person gambling could turn you into.
So, let’s skip poker night and let’s just watch a sporting event without having to think about how much money you could loose.
Maybe one of you teens can tell me...where do you guys get all this money? Is it your own earned money or are your parents subsidizing this habit? When I was young, I certainly never had "extra" money to gamble with, if I had any money at all.