The continued expansion and accessibility of gambling creates a need for young people in Manitoba to have accurate and helpful information so they will be prepared to make informed decisions about gambling in the future.
The Addictions Foundation of Manitoba (AFM) has developed a gambling awareness session for middle years students called “It’s Your Lucky Day” and another for senior high students called “Youth Gambling Facts”.
“It’s Your Lucky Day” is aimed at grade 7 and 8 students and provides factual information about how gambling works with a focus on randomness, odds, house advantage and mistaken beliefs about gambling. The goal of the program is to prevent possible harms from occurring in relation to current or future gambling involvement. The program has a companion website that can be viewed by clicking on the following link: luckyday.ca
The program utilizes a multi-media format and can be booked at no cost to the school. The session is approximately 45 minutes in length and relates to the following subject areas:
- Health curriculum (decision making and risk taking)
- Mathematics curriculum (probability and randomness)
“Youth Gambling Facts” is aimed at grade 9 to 12 students and provides accurate information about how raffles, scratch tickets, lotteries, and electronic gaming machines work (slots & VLTs). Topics discussed include randomness, odds, house advantage and mistaken beliefs about gambling. The goal of the program is to prevent possible harms from occurring in relation to current or future gambling involvement.
The program utilizes a multi-media format and can be booked at no cost to the school. Each session is approximately 60 minutes in length and relates to the Health curriculum as follows:
- Addiction and effects on self and others
- Substance use and gambling involvement and potential health consequences
- Community agencies, resources and prevention of addiction
If you would like to book an in-class presentation, please contact the staff person in your region.
| Winnipeg Region | kevans@afm.mb.ca | 944-6254 |
| Presentations in French | jousset@afm.mb.ca | 944-6226 |
| Western Region | ksurovy@afm.mb.ca | 1–204-867-6100 |
| Northern Region | northreg@afm.mb.ca | 1–866-291-7774 |
Classroom Activities
Teachers are in a unique position to influence young people’s beliefs and attitudes about a number of health issues, including gambling and problem gambling.
Check out the educational activities related to specific curriculum outcomes. All activities are in PDF format and can be easily printed for classroom use.
