There is an old adage that says seeing is believing. That's what the Atlantic Lottery Corporation in partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council is attempting to do with a Youth Awareness Drama Program to be performed at several New Brunswick high schools this week.

 

House of Cards is a bilingual drama program aimed at raising awareness about the risks associated with gambling.

 

A performance took place yesterday at Bathurst Regional High School and more are scheduled for today at 9:40 a.m. at Riverview Regional High School and tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. at Bonar Law Memorial High School in Rexton.

 

The Responsible Gambling Council is an independent, non-profit organization committed to the prevention of problem gambling.

 

House of Cards was created primarily for high school students. It explores some of the non-monetary costs that first-year university students might face as he or she becomes more focused on gambling.

 

"Problem gambling is an issue normally associated with older adults," according to Laurie Bell, director of prevention programs with the council. "In reality, a 19-year-old is more likely to have a problem than a 50-year-old. That's why it's so important to reach out to high school students now, and let them know about the risks of gambling."

 

Eventually, the program will have travelled to 24 high schools across Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

 

"This will be the third year ALC partnered with the Responsible Gambling Council to deliver this type of dramatic performance to high schools in Atlantic Canada," said Kim Wilson, manager of social responsibility and responsible gambling with the corporation. "The result is that we have reached over 10,000 high schools students with important messages about the risks associated with gambling."