My name is Kirtus Thurston, and I am a compulsive gambler. The gambling scene today is a monster compared to 2015, when I placed my last bet. Gambling is now glamorized with non-stop ads where celebrities promote it as entertainment and make it look easy to win. Technology allows us to walk around with a full casino and sports book at our fingertips. We have prediction markets pushing their agendas and few guard rails to slow them down.

The younger generation is being ushered into the world of gambling with open arms and can be at a much higher risk for compulsive gambling because the adolescent brain is still developing. For elementary school-aged kids, or even younger, it begins with in-game purchases to find treasures or clues to get through an adventure. In middle school, their gaming platforms are just scaled back gambling boxes and as they get older, they see casino games based on their favorite games and think they have an advantage. They are exposed to a constant barrage of sports heroes and actors promoting gambling as merely entertainment. They make it look immensely fun and are given all kinds of incentives to try it out.

Parents, teachers, and coaches can and should play a role in teaching kids about the realities and dangers of gambling. Evidence-based prevention strategies suggest talking to kids openly and honestly.

• Instead of lecturing, find teachable moments when you hear or see an ad for gambling and ask what they think about it
• Help them understand that gambling companies are highly profitable businesses because the games are mathematically designed to make the player lose over time, compare the probability of winning to something relatable like the chance of being struck by lightning or finding a four-leaf clover.
• Teach them that gambling should be viewed strictly as paying for entertainment—like buying a movie ticket—where the money spent is gone, rather than a strategy to make money.
• Finally, children mirror the habits and language of the adults around them – make sure you’re setting a good example.

I became a Certified Recovery Coach and now work at the same place, Henry Ford Health Maplegrove, that was instrumental in my recovery. I also serve on the board of the Michigan Association on Problem Gambling (MAPG). I am grateful for my continued recovery and to be able to help guide others along their road to recovery. If you or anyone you know needs help, please call 1 800 MY RESET or 1 800 GAMBLER. There is no one size fits all approach to addiction; we must continue to evolve and grow. Together, we can recover. One day at a time.