After graduating in May, Wiedmaier plans on studying secondary education at Kansas State University.
“MHS prepared me by giving me different opportunities to try out different things, work with the community and excel in the classrooms,” she said.
Wiedmaier said receiving the scholarship will help further her education in addition to allow her to gain more knowledge about the effects of underage gambling.
In order to be awarded the scholarship, her article must be published in a local newspaper. The Maryville Daily Forum chose to publish her essay.
The effects of underage gambling

As we get older, there are different milestones we are excited to reach. For example, at age 15, we can start to drive. At age 16, it is legal to drive by ourselves, providing we pass our exam. At age 18, we can vote and are now a legal adult. At age 21, we can legally gamble and purchase alcohol. The ages, guidelines, and laws are set for our protection. The reasons behind the laws are often more logical than we think.

With the peer pressures of today on issues like underage drinking and the use of drugs, teens do not see the harm in “just one beer;” however, it is still illegal. After years of teenage peer pressure and the repetitive use of alcohol it can lead to alcoholism with lifelong lasting effects. Underage gambling works the same way. It is illegal and can have lifelong lasting effects as well.

According to the article “Legalizing Internet Gaming, Part VI: Problem and Underage Gambling” by Glenn Light and Karl Rutledge, some effects of underage gambling can “…progress to levels at which the emotional and financial consequences of the behavior can compromise, disrupt or destroy the gambler’s personal life, family relationships and vocational pursuits.” Like alcohol or drugs, gambling can also become addictive.

Playing card games at a family function or with a group of friends is always fun. However, things such as scratch cards, dice, poker, and sports betting are some of the addictive and illegal activities for underage young adults. The repercussions of underage gambling are very serious. If a minor is caught gambling, a possible charge with fines, probation, or even jail or prison are probable consequences.

Some European countries have regulations that allow Internet gambling to be safe. The European process of having third party systems has been proven to be more reliable than a driver’s license scan in America. With their controls of identity verification and age, it has seen to be very effective and successful in making the online gambling process safer. Modeling our systems after foreign countries’ successful online gambling methods would be very easy and effective. Copying their structures could help us move towards a decrease in the amount of underage gambling.

Underage gambling is a problem in America. The effects of gambling can be permanent and life changing. Although every person who gambles may not have a problem, that does not mean gambling is not an issue among teens in today’s society. It is worth the time and investment to ensure the mental health and well-being of the young adults of our future. As Jennifer McCausland said, “Gambling can be just as addictive as drugs and alcohol. Teens and their parents need to know that they’re not just gambling with money, they’re gambling with their lives.”

Maryville Daily Forum © February 2015