Sieda Behavioral Health and Treatment Services Prevention staff completed at the end of the school year a curriculum called “Stacked Deck.” This curriculum was given to the high school students at the Appanoose County campus in Centerville.  Students learned about the house edge in gambling.

Lotteries, casinos, and sports betting companies are the “house” and games are designed for them to win, not the participants. Students realized the house edge assures that players cannot win over the long haul.  Students learned the odds are against them and that a person has a 1 in 146 million chance of winning the lottery.  

Stacked Deck helped students describe some negative consequences of gambling, understand that gambling can be as addictive as drugs or alcohol, and recognize signs and symptoms of problem gambling. 

As part of the curriculum students designed posters with truth in gambling messages.  These photos include some of their artwork.

Need our Prevention Staff to speak at an event, school, or other groups, click here for our Prevention Gambling page or Prevention and Substance Abuse Education page.