News release

82% Gives Duncan MacMillan High School Students Straight Deal on Gambling

Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation (to Dec. 2012)

The increasing popularity of poker among students, and the number of youth with access to illegal online gambling sites, makes the Responsible Gambling Council's live drama 82% a relevant and important program for youth.

The live drama, created for secondary school students and preformed today, Oct. 7 at Duncan MacMillan High School in Sheet Harbour, is supported by the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation during Responsible Gambling Awareness Week. It will tour throughout the province this fall.

"Once teens reach the age of 19, the risk of developing a gambling problem almost doubles, and young adults don't perceive gambling as risky behaviour," says Barry Koen-Butt, director of awareness programs and communications, Responsible Gambling Council. "The council's youth dramas have proven to be an effective tool to deliver awareness messages about the risks of gambling to this age group, before they are of legal age to gamble."

82%, the sixth drama created by the council, features young actors and age-relevant language and messaging to explore the personal consequences facing a young adult, and those around him, when his gambling gets out of control. The dramatic performance is inspired by creative contributions by high school students and is followed by an interactive student talk designed to reinforce the drama's messages.

"This drama is the perfect medium to deliver gambling prevention messages to adolescents," said Stephen MacDonald, acting president and CEO, Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation. "82% is written and performed in a way that effectively reaches the students. We are proud to support this program."

The gaming corporation has brought council dramas to Nova Scotia schools since 2005. All have been designed to encourage those younger than 19 not to gamble, increase awareness of the signs of problem gambling and provide information on where to get help.

The Responsible Gambling Council is an independent, non-profit organization committed to problem gambling prevention. It designs and delivers highly effective awareness programs. Through its Centre for the Advancement of Best Practices, the council also promotes identifying and adopting best practices in problem gambling prevention.

The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation is the Crown corporation that manages the gaming industry in the province and is the host of the 10th annual Responsible Gambling Awareness Week, which runs Oct. 2–8. The week includes a full schedule of community events and education programs across Nova Scotia. For more information, visit www.nsgc.ca and select the Responsible Gambling Conference icon.