In choosing a treatment approach for a youth, it is important to bear in mind that the individual might present with a complexity of factors. With youth, factors other than the gambling often contribute to the problem that needs addressing.

Gupta and Derevensky (2000) describe the characteristics of adolescents who have sought treatment at their clinic. These characteristics are the following:

• Youth exhibit overt signs of anxiety and/or attention deficit disorder. Excessive fidgety behaviour, nail biting, sleep disturbances, stomach disorder and an inability to focus on schoolwork are common.
• 30% of the adolescents meet the criteria for clinical depression upon intake. Another 20% develop symptoms of depression after they have stopped their gambling participation.
• Severed or stressed familial and peer relationships are always present.
• Most of their friendships prior to their gambling no longer exist.
• The activities most problematic for these youth include sports betting, casino playing and video lottery terminals.
• By the time most adolescents seek treatment, they are experiencing serious financial difficulties, with debts ranging from $3,000 to $25,000.
• Academic failure is very common.
• All have sold personal possessions, with most having stolen money from their homes.

The literature on treatment for youth gambling problems is sparse since adolescents rarely seek treatment for gambling problems. As a result, there is little clinical experience for researchers to draw upon.

In 2000, the McGill Centre for Youth Gambling Problems reported that they had treated 36 youth over a five-year period (Gupta & Derevensky, 2000). They reported that their program, which is predicated on the notion that gambling problems often develop partially as a result of the need to escape other underlying stressors, was very successful in stopping problem gambling behaviours and preventing relapse.

From their experiences, Gupta and Derevensky (2000) impart several recommendations. First, they note that many youth seem to enter treatment immediately after stopping their gambling, and ask for help maintaining abstinence and dealing with the effects of gambling problems. This suggests that treatment providers should be prepared to deal with preventing relapse from the outset.

Gupta and Derevensky (2000) also disclose the avenues through which adolescents find their treatment services. The primary sources include referrals from parents, friends, teachers, the court system, the Internet and local helpline services. Finally, they reported that because of the typical gambler’s social network, many young gamblers referred their own friends for treatment.

An important treatment consideration that is especially relevant for youth is the location of the treatment facility. Youth may be reluctant to enter a treatment facility that they can be seen entering. Also, accessibility by public transport is necessary for a group of people that generally do not own cars or have money for cab fare. Given the lack of finances youth generally have, Gupta and Derevensky (2000) recommend that treatment should be provided at no cost.

It is not easy to engage young people in treatment for problem gambling. Given the skills needed to work with youth, counsellors should probably be youth workers with additional skills in gambling counselling, rather than the reverse.

Telephone counselling can make treatment more accessible to many. It is a useful option that affords a level of confidentiality that does not exist with traditional face-to-face counselling. As such, youth may feel less intimidated about seeking advice or assistance for their gambling concerns this way. The same could be said for Internet counselling. Young persons, who are computer literate, may feel confident and comfortable seeking help over the Internet.