(BPT) - Summertime can be a challenging and risky period for teenagers, as the extra free time and lack of structure can lead to boredom and often risky behaviors like distracted driving, drug or alcohol use and more. Adding to these concerns among parents and caregivers is added screentime, which can be tied to a spike in gambling behavior.

In fact, despite gambling being illegal for people under 18 in Minnesota, the National Council on Problem Gambling reports 60 to 80 percent of high schoolers have gambled in the past year, and teens are four times more likely to develop a gambling disorder than adults.

These facts should be a red flag for parents, according to the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling (MNAPG), an organization that provides resources and education to support people and families with gambling problems and gambling addiction.

'Teenagers have more access to mobile gambling than ever before, and summer break is a critical time for parents to talk to their teen about gambling while looking at signs of addictive behavior,' says Susan Sheridan Tucker, executive director, MNAPG. 'While many parents are aware of the dangers that alcohol and drugs pose to teenagers, gambling is another serious issue that can lead to addiction and other high-risk behaviors that can derail a teen's future.'

MNAPG notes there are also risk factors that make people under 18 more likely to develop a problem, such as an early experience with gambling, a family history of gambling addiction or substance addiction, as well as a personal history of substance abuse, depression or ADHD.

MNAPG offers these tips for parents and caregivers to address gambling with their teenager:

• Don't engage your children in gambling activities or reward them with gambling-related items such as lottery tickets, pull tabs or poker chips.
• Listen to what they say about gambling and encourage an ongoing discussion.
• Let them know about the potential harms of gambling, as well as the differences between lower-risk play and risky gambling.
• Teach them about the odds and emphasize that 'the house always wins in the long run.'

MNAPG says parents should look for possible signs of teen gambling, such as an increased amount of time spent on screens and if their teen has unexplained sources of money, as well as intense reactions during sporting events.

'We often see teenagers who are engaged with gambling losing interest in activities they once enjoyed and becoming more secretive,' says Sheridan Tucker. 'The best thing parents can do is to be engaged with their teen and have a sense of the apps and sites their child is frequently visiting.'

As one solution, MNAPG offers free subscriptions to Gamban, an award-winning app that can be applied to smartphones and other devices to block online gambling sites and apps. The app also monitors progress by tracking the number of gamble-free days and the time and money saved. Parents can request a free subscription at www.mnapg.org/gambling-addiction/problem-gambler-resources.

And to address the absence of problem gambling education in Minnesota's high schools, MNAPG has designed a digital toolkit to help high schools educate and spread awareness on the dangers of gambling. The Lead the Way to Safer Play toolkit focuses on safe gaming and gambling disorder, offering free printed materials for schools to order, plus turn-key social media content, educational pieces, customizable newsletter articles, sports public address announcements and more. Schools can request the kit online: https://school-toolkit.mnapg.org/.