Oregon school gambling policies

Note: The following policies were located online in a search of policies related to gambling (October 2006). This sampling of policies is not exhaustive, but meant as a guide to help facilitate the development of school gambling policies, given that student/parent handbooks are written in various formats.

Amity School District (Amity) Student/Parent Handbook
Definition: Participation in game of chance for the purpose of exchanging money.
Consequences: “Students shall be liable to discipline, suspension, or expulsion for misconduct including…gambling.”

Cascade Middle School (Bend) Student Handbook
Definition: To wager money or anything of value on the outcome of a game, contest or other event.
Consequences: “(Gambling) may result in detention, loss of privileges and/or suspension on the first offense; serious or repeated offenses may result in recommendation for expulsion.”

Elmira High School (Elmira) Student/Parent Handbook 2006-2007
Definition: (No definition for gambling listed.)
Consequences: Step 1= Detention/Wednesday School; Step 2= Suspension 1-3 School Days; Step 3= Suspension 5-10 School Days

Fir Ridge Campus Alternative High School (Portland) Student Handbook
Definition: Risking something of value in hopes of winning something else of value is prohibited on school property or at school activities.
Descriptor (no specific consequence listed): Gambling is listed as one of the “prohibited actions which are never allowed on campus or at school function.”

Gaston Junior/Senior High School (Gaston) Student Handbook 2004-2005
Definition: Participating in games of chance for the purpose of exchanging money and other things of value
Consequences: First offense=ranges from informal talk to suspension. Repeated offense=ranges from conference to suspension.

Grant Union High School (John Day) Student Handbook 2006-2007
Definition: Participating in games of chance for purpose of exchanging money.
Consequences: Range from informal talk to suspension.

Junction City High School (Junction City) Student Handbook 2005-2006
Consequences: Step 1 = Detention, confiscation of property; Step 2 = Suspension 1-5 days
(No definition for gambling listed.)

Lundy Elementary School (Lowell) Student Handbook 2003-2004
Descriptor: “Gambling will not be allowed in the school buildings or on the school grounds, or during school sponsored activities.”
(No definition or specific consequences for gambling listed.)

Monroe Middle School (Eugene) Student/Parent Handbook 2006-2007
Definition: All forms of gambling are forbidden and will not be permitted. Soliciting or conducting a lottery on school ground is also forbidden.
Discipline: “Depending on seriousness of situation, full range of sanctions apply including suspension and possible expulsion.”

North Marion High School (Aurora) Student Handbook 2003-2004
Definition: participating in games of chance for the purpose of exchanging money or property.
Consequences: Gambling is listed as one of the “serious misconduct” behaviors. (No specific consequence listed.)

Oakridge High School (Oakridge) Student Planner 2005-2006
Consequences: First occurrence=1 day suspension, 10 points; Repeated occurrences=1 day suspension, 20 points.
(No definition for gambling listed.)

Rogue River High School (Rogue River) Student Handbook 2006-2007
Definition: Participating in games of chance for the purpose of exchanging money, property, or services.
Consequences: First offense= conference to suspension. Repeated offense= Suspension to expulsion.

Thurston High School (Springfield) Student Handbook 2006-2007
“Gambling in any form between students is prohibited.”
(No definition for gambling listed.)

New estimates of adult problem gamblers in Oregon

October 21-- The Oregonian published new results from Oregon's latest adult problem gambling prevalence study. Click here to read the full article, "Little change seen in problem gamblers," by Michelle Cole.


Key Points

More than 75,000 adults in Oregon are problem gamblers, according to a new study released by the Oregon Gambling Addiction Treatment Foundation.

• 2005 estimate of Oregon problem/pathological gamblers: 2.7%
• 2001 estimate: 2.3%
• Study participants: 1,554 adults
  Timeline: study occurred before launch of video slots in May 2005
  

Games of choice:

• Still video lottery (poker).
• The preferred gambling activity among Oregonians has shifted from casinos -- once the preferred choice -- to traditional lottery games.
• More Oregonians are gambling over the telephone and Internet. The study estimates that about 50,000 adults who gambled last year had placed bets via the phone or computer, most of them men.

State-funded gambling treatment:

• From June 2005 to July 2006, 2,056 Oregon residents sought help, often by calling the statewide help line.
• 10 percent increase in the number of people seeking state-funded treatment over the past year since video line games (slots) were introduced.

Lottery sales:

• The Oregon Lottery reported $1.09 billion in sales last fiscal year.
• Video game sales are up almost 27 percent since line games (video slots) were introduced in May 2005.
  

Problem Gambling Linked to Other Problematic Behavior in Florida Students

"Problem Gambling Linked to Other Problematic Behavior in Florida Students"
Released on October 19, 2006 by the Florida Council on Problem Gambling (FCCG).

Full article available here.

Key points:
"The study recognized strong correlations between youth gambling and problematic behavior in school such as truancy, poor grades, and disorderly conduct. According to the analysis of the survey, students that gamble are twice as likely to be drunk or high at school as non-gamblers. High risk gamblers were more than twice as likely to receive D's and F's as their non- gambler counter parts and nearly four times as likely to skip school six or more days during a four-week period."

Youth between the ages of 13-17 are among the fastest growing groups of problem gamblers in the state with rates twice that of the adult population.

FCCG's Department of Education approved Problem Gambling Prevention Program for Middle and High School Students provides basic awareness and assistance for problem gambling and resources for in-school implementation such as workbook, materials, and free training for program administrators.