As we can't be on the lookout for our kids 24/7, we can't dictate their life's choices. But yes, as much as possible, allow them to gamble when they are old enough to know the repercussions of their actions. And they are also earning for themselves. Because if they are earning, it means, they understood the value of the money. They may have different disposition in life if they truly understood what they are doing to their lives and their income.
In addition, if the individual is too young to get into this game, usually, they can't handle the emotional toll on them. They are not mature enough to handle terrible situations on hand. This is why, as much as possible, they should be old enough to gauge their situation. So they can have better disposition in life even if we say, they lost something from gambling.
Although we cannot look out for the kids 24/7, we should be accountable for where they're and what they're doing at every point in time, most especially when they're still underage. I don't also advocate for children learning gambling from their parents, there are several good norms you should expose them to rather than gambling activities. Parents shouldn't gamble in front of their kids because these tiny legs are natural scanners, they absorb every energy around them both positive and negative. Being young, they can't totally differentiate the good ones from the bad ones, especially when they copy it from their parents.
When they're of age and choose to gamble, its the parents duty to guide them to gamble in moderation and learn emotional control in gambling to prevent addiction and serious funds loss.
we're talking about kids here; they're not little adults, right? They're impressionable, they're learning about the world by watching us. Sure, you can't keep an eye on them every second, but the things we do, the things we normalize around them, that sticks. Gambling in front of them? That's sending a message, whether you like it or not. They don't get the risks, they don't understand addiction; to them, it's just something adults do
The real work, the tough work, comes later. When they're older and making their own choices, that's when it's about open conversations. It's about teaching them balance, about understanding that losing is part of the game, about controlling their emotions; those are life skills, not just gambling skills. Our job as parents isn't to shield them from everything, it's to teach them how to navigate the world, the good and the bad