Parents Wondering About Poker's Impact on Kids

When poker became so big that the Big Three TV networks began to scramble to come up with offerings to the market, it was a sign that the game had invaded the homes of every day America, and parents are worried now about the impact of poker on the kids. Research points out that anywhere from 60 to 90 percent of young folk participate in gambling of one form or another, often encouraged by parents as an alternate activity to hanging out "in the streets." Watching the behavior of some teens, however, shows that gambling among teens is often accompanied by drug and alcohol use, so parents are cautioned to take the same care to know what their kids are up to as they would with any other activity.