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Worried about Pocker

December 22, 2005

Most people think that playing pocker is harmless, But parents, teachers and addiction experts say there's cause to worry.

The average age of those who do have those concerns is dropping, says Beth Schwartz, supervisor of the treatment program at St. Vincent's Hospital's Gambler's Treatment Center in West Brighton.

"My 10-year-old son requested Texas Hold 'Em pocker for Christmas," said George Anthony, a conflict resolution specialist and history/sociology teacher at Susan Wagner. "I don't know if I want him playing, but at the same time it's become a social game as much as it's a card game. I'm hoping it's just a fad."

The teacher asked his sociology class last month whether they thought Texas Hold 'Em would lead kids at the high school age to move to other forms of gambling.

Eight voices instantly shouted, in unison, "It already has."

Some of their friends play nonstop throughout the day, they said.

"They gamble on pocker past money, they start putting other things up," said Elad, 16, who "got out of that" once his friends started waging each other's designer clothing.

"We're seeing more and more youngsters," she said, noting about 15 percent of the pocker center's clients are youths, a number that spiked this year. "Statistics have shown that the younger they gamble at partypocker, the more of a problem they might have later on."

And it's not just chips that sold like hotcakes this holiday season; gambling sets are being targeted to the pre-pocker set as well. This holiday season, in any of Staten Island's card and novelty stores, were brightly advertised $7.99 Barbie "Bunko" sets, a kid-flavored version of the old card game. Packaged in a hard pocketbook-like case and containing pink dice and cards with images of high heels and sunglasses on their black-and-pink backs, the set is like a gaming fashion accessory for 9-year-old girls.

"We really have done a job of desensitizing the public, and in particular parents, about gambling and the risks," said Dr. Richard Pearlman, who works with patients at the Gambler's Treatment Center. "We've done a good job of alerting the public to the dangers of pocker of drug addiction, of cigarette and tobacco smoking, but (not) pathological gambling."

According to a recent LA Daily News article, state officials have their hands tied when it comes to the legality of the pocker fundraisers. "California law is rigid and inflexible when it comes to nonprofits and charitable gambling. There is no exception written into the law. Even if you're not the type to play pocker for real money, it is illegal," said Nathan Barankin, communications director for the Attorney General's Office.