Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP)

YGAP is a prevention and education program designed to reduce the potential harm that may be associated with youth gambling.
We do not make value judgments about gambling; rather, we see it as an activity in which people may or may not engage. Through a harm reduction approach, we support young people to make informed decisions. The program provides free information sessions to youth ages 8-24 and people who influence and work with youth in Nova Scotia.

Why the YMCA?

We believe that prevention programs are essential to improving individual health, personal development and creating a healthier community.

Key Messages

Today’s youth are the first to grow up in a society in which gambling is legalized and actively promoted, normalized and glamorized.

The YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness program supports youth by providing accurate information about gambling and by facilitating a discussion of gambling issues that affect young people today.

Parents and professionals who work with children and youth need information and children need to be encouraged to talk about emerging societal issues that may affect themselves, their families and their communities.

The topic is gambling but the message of these presentations is consistent with all YMCA programming for children and youth - A focus on decision making skills, coping strategies, asset development and critical thinking

Research Shows

• That adolescents report significantly higher rates of problem gambling
  than adults
• That problem gamblers are significantly more likely to start gambling
  earlier in life than non-problem gamblers.
• That gambling patterns begin as early as 8 years of age and can be established before an adolescent reaches high school.
• That youth are less likely to get involved in problematic or criminalized behaviours if their coping strategies are enhanced

Program Basics

A series of interactive, age appropriate presentations that are approximately 1 hour in length (flexible). The age groups we work with are:
8-10, 11-14, 15-18, and 19-24
As well as specific presentations for camp environments, topics covered include:

• Understanding Odds and Randomness
• Definition of Gambling
• The Gambling Continuum
• Skill vs. Chance
• Signs of Problem Gambling
• Harm Reduction Strategies

Other Services

In addition to presentations to schools and organizations that work with youth we also provide:

• Educational workshops for Parents, Teachers, Health professionals and other agencies & organizations working with youth.
• Referral to gambling treatment services.
• Curriculum Support Package grades 9-12, click here
• Curriculum Support Package grades 7-8, click here
• Curriculum Support Package grades 3-6, click here

YGAP Contact Info

This program currently has services available in the Halifax and Cape Breton.
For more information in these communities please contact:

Halifax                                                                  Cape Breton
Bill Deluney                                                            Rob Martin
Tel:  (902) 457-7531                                                Tel:  (902) 849-1794
Cell: (902) 471-9534                                                Cell: (902) 565-1051

bill_deluney@ymca.ca                                              rob_martin@ymca.ca

For more information, please download or view our brochure