BUT DID THE EXPERTS READ THE ARTICLE?

Pathological gambling among the young is exaggerated, experts say

A well-documented upsurge in online poker appears to be fueling a corresponding growth in problem-gambling statistics among young people. According to the Annenberg Public Policy Center, the 2003-04 period saw an 84 percent growth in weekly poker play among male high school and college students and half of all college students gamble at least once a month.

Arnie Wexler, who advises major casino companies on disordered gambling and runs 1-888-LAST-BET, tells the Business Press that one-third of the calls to his hotline either come from people under age 25 who are addicted to poker or Internet gambling -- or from their concerned parents. "It's unreal," Wexler says.

link