Bangkok, Thai Health Promotion Foundation joins hands with Rangsit University and network partners. Build gambling awareness skills to prevent children and youth After discovering more than 3 million people gamble online, more than 1.4 million people are at risk of being problem gamblers. to gambling addiction - depression - suicide - substance use Health Promotion Foundation (Thai Health Promotion Foundation) in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, Rangsit University, Stop Gambling Campaign Foundation Organized a cooperation signing ceremony (MOU) to build gambling literacy skills to protect children and youth, and a forum to discuss legal and health dimensions. Dealing with Borderless Gambling Dr. Pairot Saonuam, Assistant Fund Manager, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, said the results of the survey of online gambling behavior between January and February 2023 among the new generation, aged 15-25 years, nationwide, totaling 5,010 samples, by Gambling Problem Study Center Chulalongkorn University found that more than 3 million people gamble online through stimulation. Widely solicited through each online media platform. About 1.4 million young people are at risk of becoming problem gamblers. Leads to gambling addiction or Pathological Gambling, which has a direct effect on the brain. The risk of depression, suicide, and drug use is 2-5 times higher than the general population. In terms of environment, 97% have people they know gamblers. There are also a lot of people sharing, telling or inviting people to join in gambling. Thai Health Promotion Foundation has therefore created cooperation through a project to build capacity and expand youth networks to reduce social risk factors. Including pushing for network mechanisms to monitor and communicate to reduce the impact of gambling at the local level throughout the country. Academic connections Drive society Develop policy-potential and expand campaigner networks-learning kits Let's work together to watch out, give importance to, speed up prevention and solve the problem of reducing new gamblers in children and youth. Special Prof. Wicha Mahakun, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Rangsit University, former National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and former Chairman of the Juvenile and Family Cases Division of the Supreme Court, said that online gambling is easily accessible to children and youth. So do adults. Affects social and family problems, especially technological crimes that are difficult to deal with, corruption, fraud, while our country's Gambling Act It's ancient. Because it has been enacted since 1935, it has been nearly 90 years, although it has been revised somewhat in the past period. But it is often an adjustment in details that are not the main thing. Not keeping up with this era and mainly focused on suppression There is no defense. It is considered that social measures must be taken, such as protecting young people from being involved in gambling. It is suggested that additional measures may be put in place in addition to child protection laws. Or parents and guardians must share responsibility as well. Prevent your children from gambling and society must think and debate more seriously. Looking at the impacts from all sides Look at guidelines and lessons learned from various countries before pushing for the legalization of gambling dens or casinos. Focusing only on the economy, Rangsit University joins with Thai Health Promotion Foundation and related units. To jointly develop policies to prevent access to gambling among children and youth. Through the participation of personnel in each department Including creating awareness about gambling literacy. and create understanding with policy makers In order to have a policy of not increasing the gambling area. Mr. Thanakorn Khomkrit, secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Campaign Foundation, said that at present, gambling has changed shape. Until many people are not aware of it, for example, it is a game, gambling websites use hidden rhetoric to make it an investment. It is not surprising that the number of new gamblers will continue to increase. Before amending the law in the big picture, it is considered that society and the state must first be clear about the issue of gambling. Where do you put it first? Because of the attitude of Thai people Gambling is often seen as a matter of play. but medical Gambling is not a game. It can expand into an addiction affecting the brain. As for the age, it is less common. Part of it comes from being used to it. and being in an environment where adults gamble Some people take children to sit in a circle of cards. Let the children predict the lottery. Pick up a lottery hint card. It is not unusual for children to view these things as normal or the various types of random, gambling machines in the department store. It must be clear which type is gambling, not that it cannot be had. But it must be clear. And young people should not be able to play easily. Therefore, look at Problems of children and youth accessing gambling Society and the state must press the first button co rrectly before changing the law in the big picture. Source: Thai News Agency