As the old Bishop in Meeteetse, Wyo. used to tell his little congregation at every opportune moment, "You can't lead where you ain't going." Youth in America have become more heavily involved in gambling as state governments, through actions, advertisements and example, have told them "It's OK to play the lottery", and "It's OK to gamble." When gambling is justified as a means of sponsoring children's education and other civic needs, it's hard to make children think gambling is a bad idea.

     Though the American Gaming Association claims to abhor underage gambling, their spokesmen have also said repeatedly how pleased they are that "young people" have become more and more accepting of gambling as a "form of entertainment."
The costs of that acceptance are high and growing with each bad example that is set by states, parents and peers.