Gambling awareness

On Monday January 25th, the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) launched a new campaign at Laurier to inform students about the dangerous risks surrounding gambling problems.

The program, kts2, is an awareness campaign that uses social media to inform students about the signs of problem gambling.

“This is the first year we’re doing the kts2 program which integrates social media, as well as an interactive website and Bluetooth texting,” said kts2 representative Monika Singh.

According to RGC, 18 to 24-year-olds are at the highest risk of developing gambling problems. The original Know the Score program was created by RGC in 2001. Since then, the program has reached students across Atlantic Canada, Manitoba, British Columbia and New York State. The idea for kts2 stemmed from this program.

“kts2 is an interactive problem gambling awareness program,” said Singh. “We’re trying to provide young adults with information about where to get help, how to recognize problems and myths regarding gambling problems.”

Singh added that representatives of kts2 have the ability to refer students who contact them to local professionals for help with problem gambling; however, everything remains confidential.

The program will be running in Laurier’s Concourse from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. until Thursday January 28th. After that, students can continue to access the program online at kts.ca.