加拿大儿科协会警告预防青少年赌博

　　随着网上赌博在世界各地成为越来越普遍的事情，在过去的十年时间里，孩子们比以往任何时候都更容易出现赌博问题。目前有几十个司法管辖区的国会议员已经在考虑扩张赌博经济，这将加重危害青少年的成长。

　　加拿大儿科协会针对现状向社会发布警告，希望成人要注意预防青少年参与赌博游戏，为他们营造一个良好的成长环境，提醒成人不要以为在友好的气氛中玩赌博游戏（不涉及赌钱）是没有害处的，“如果孩子们小时候玩扑克牌或骰子游戏，长大后就有可能参与赌博行为了。”豪尔赫博士在一份新闻稿中如此说道，“这似乎是无害的，但随着孩子长大，这些行为可以发展成为严重的赌博活动，大多数的青少年赌博问题都是由此发展起来的。”

　　精神科医生也针对青少年的赌博问题向社会人士提出警示。随着近几年网络赌博的白热化，现在的孩子更容易染上网络赌隐。

　　“我年轻的时候是绝对不能在互联网上创建赌博帐户的。”安大略省的居民沃伦如此说到，“现在的孩子们甚至可以拿到他们父母的信用卡在网上创建赌博账号，参与网络赌博游戏。”

　　原因是大多数网上赌场缺乏基本的保障措施，相关部门对网络赌场缺乏有力的监督。在线扑克已经成为最热门的在线赌博方式之一。在过去五年时间里，许多国家纷纷出台调控政策。但即使国家机关部门参与调控，加拿大儿科协会认为还需要进行更多的工作来帮助青少年朋友远离赌博。“在这个日益网络化的时代，网络博彩作为一个新的领域发展至今，许多技术尚未完善，加之这个是高风险业务。我们希望成人社会能对青少年保护这一方面引起足够重视。

　　译文：

　　Canadian Pediatric Society Warns Against Teen Gambling

　　With online gambling becoming much more prevalent around the world over the past decade, children have been more susceptible to gambling problems than ever before. Lawmakers in dozens of jurisdictions have been balancing the line between gambling expansion and problem gambling.

　　Now, the Canadian Pediatric Society has released an opinion that is warning parents and legislators about the dangers of allowing children to gamble, even in a friendly atmosphere with no money at stake. The dangers, according to the group, run deeper than just addiction.

　　"If children are playing cards or dice games for money, even if it's with their family members, then they are gambling," said Dr. Jorge Pinzon, in a press release. "It seems harmless, but as kids get older, these behaviors can develop into more serious gambling activities. And far too many youth develop problems with gambling."

　　That opinion is not knew among doctors, as psychiatrists have been warning about the dangers of adolescent gambling for years. The difference, however, is now the children have gambling much more readily available with the Internet gambling boom hitting a fever pitch in recent years.

　　"When I was young, you couldn't go on the Internet and create accounts to gamble," said Warren Combs, an Ontario resident. "These days, the kids can get their hands on a parents credit card, and off to the computer they go. Sometimes the parents don't find out until after their next credit card bill. In some cases, I bet they don't find out at all."

　　There are safeguards in place at most online casinos that will keep children from gaining access to the cash sites. Online poker has become one of the hottest ways to gamble online, with many countries regulating the industry over the past five years. Even with regulation, the Canadian Pediatric Society believes more needs to be done.

　　"In this increasingly web-based and networked era, a new frontier has evolved and to date, the impact of new technology on this significantly 'risky business' has not been elucidated. Research into online gambling is needed to better support our youth, particularly males, who engage in this type of practice."