This is always true, kids or even teens are prone of curiosity, once they see that it feels normal especially they always see almost everyone gambles on that area or the environment where s/he came from, then there's no way that kid will not try to gamble too. What more if they experience the beginner's luck, that probably the reason they will try again and again, until it becomes addiction.
It is not always about the environment, it's always about the kids upbringing first before environmental influence, a kid who is well trained at home would not gamble just because their friends are gambling, they will not smoke just because their friends are smoking. All my friends smokes but I don't, it's always a personal choices at the end.
Isn't it easier to stop kid's from gambling? I mean if they're not getting or exposed to too much money, there would be nothing left to gamble with. They'll eventually quit.
Well, this is true as well. But i don't think "trained" is the proper words for it, if you say "disciplined" then that's right. And it will still fall to the environment where the kid came from just like i said. Your friends or school friends can't just influence you jus because they are like that snd like this.
I remember i have 2-3 different circle of friends on my teenager years. The academic friends where i always place at the top at least top 5 in school from elementary to high school.
The outside of school friends, where i will always hangout, these were the mixed ones, the academic peeps and those who just happy go lucky.
Then the bad boys friends lol, those who smokes, gamble, dr*gs, make funny activity outside, but won't do crimes like thiefs or similar, these are the computer shop boys too.
But hol'up