If you have noticed more teen gambling lately, you are not alone and support is available.
Not A Chance is a free, gambling prevention curriculum written for high school students in Illinois. Not A Chance is implemented by trained facilitators who manage the curriculum, materials, and lesson planning.
Our Why
From sports betting, to gaming, to prediction markets: gambling is more accessible today than ever before, and it is affecting our young people. Youth gambling can lead to very real harm.
In the 12 to 17 age range:
- 1 in 25 students are experiencing problem gambling. Another 2 in 25 are considered at risk.
- Youth who gamble are up to 4X more likely to experience problem gambling compared to adults who gamble.
- Youth experiencing problem gambling may face loss of usual interests, harm to relationships, mental health challenges, and financial struggles.
What is Not A Chance?
Not A Chance is an interactive, student-driven, and discussion-based curriculum written to build resilience to harmful experiences like problem gambling. Students explore a variety of topics, activities, and tools that protect and support them as they move toward their exciting futures.
Not A Chance is:
- A problem gambling prevention curriculum designed for Illinois high school students
- 100% free, implemented by trained facilitators
- Supportive of ISBE, NHES, and other mandated educational standards
- 6 lessons, once a week, minimum 40 minutes allotted per lesson
- Implemented with all students within a grade level (freshman or sophomore)
Throughout the curriculum, students explore:
The curriculum works to reduce risk factors like impulsivity and increase protective factors like media literacy.
- Gambling, how it functions, and how it can impact people
- Thoughtful, fulfilling decision-making processes
- Feeling identification and emotional regulation
- Balancing responsibilities, setting goals, and maintaining personal boundaries
- Planning for the future and money management
- Media literacy and the role of gambling advertising
What We've Learned
From our data analysis:
"Compared with the Control Group, the Experimental Group students were more likely to be more knowledgeable about gambling, feel more able to make healthy decisions regarding gambling and their behavior, thoughtfully consume and post content in social media, and behave more planfully when making decisions. Based on these results, Not A Chance is a promising curriculum for high school students to prevent problem gambling."
From students, educators, and community members:
- "I believe all schools should have Not A Chance."
- "Gambling is more than just casinos."
- "I didn't know gambling could lead to addiction!"
- "It's best to wait to gamble, not in high school."
Get Involved Today
Educators & Administrators
Protect your students: bring a fully built, standards-aligned curriculum into your school with zero cost and minimal prep.
Parents, Caregivers, & Community Members
Help us advocate for Not A Chance to your local schools. Your connection and support can help us reach more students!
Community Agencies & Organizations
Partner with us to bring this curriculum to schools in your network, or connect us to local educators and changemakers.
The Hands Behind NAC
Funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, written by Chestnut Health Systems, built on research.
Youth gambling and problem gambling is a widely growing area of concern, confirmed to be accurate in Illinois during a statewide assessment. IDHS has funded a variety of promising prevention work in response, including ours.
Chestnut is committed to providing high-quality behavioral health care and services to the communities we serve, including vast prevention work. We were selected to develop a prevention curriculum that is reflective of the gambling reality we live within, rooted in current prevention approaches.
We are not selling anything. IDHS funds the curriculum, materials, and facilitators so the curriculum can be provided to schools and students across the state at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this really free?
Yes. Not A Chance is funded by IDHS so schools and communities never pay for the curriculum, materials, or support.
How much prep time will schools need?
None. Trained facilitators handle 100% of lesson prep. Teachers are expected to support collection of the brief, digital survey.
Do we collect student data?
Student data is collected to measure efficacy. The data is 100% anonymized and does not collect identifiers like name or address.
How do I bring this to a school if I am not an administrator?
We need connections! Share this curriculum with school counselors, health teachers, coaches, PTA groups, or administrators. We're happy to help you make the case!