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Spring 2026 PhotoVoice

By: Emmett Gunsteen

OS, Inc. Youth Advocate

At a popular arcade, mystery toys are prizes you can only get with tickets, the currency you win from arcade games. The irony is that you’re using tickets earned through luck and unpredictability to buy something that’s also completely unknown. It’s — At a popular arcade, mystery toys are prizes you can only get with tickets, the currency you win from arcade games. The irony is that you’re using tickets earned through luck and unpredictability to buy something that’s also completely unknown. It’s kind of crazy when you think about it. This is how gambling gets normalized for youth today — every time we walk into places like an arcade.

When I got to a sleepover with my brother and his friends, I noticed they were playing a game on Roblox called “Knockout.” It’s one of the most popular games right now, and it has limited skins that can only be obtained by spending real money on a ch — When I got to a sleepover with my brother and his friends, I noticed they were playing a game on Roblox called “Knockout.” It’s one of the most popular games right now, and it has limited skins that can only be obtained by spending real money on a chanced loot box. This unfortunately demonstrates just how normalized gambling is regarding the youth, especially with video games.

Tanishqa Modugulu

Brandon Pantoja

Focus Youth Gambling Prevention is a program of IABH and is funded in whole by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery.

Meet Emmett, an OS, Inc. Youth Advocate and Spring 2026 PhotoVoice participant!

PhotoVoice project puts cameras in the hands of youth and encourages them to document how they are directly impacted by issues and conditions in their community.

Meet Tanishqa, an OS, Inc. Youth Advocate and Spring 2026 PhotoVoice participant!

PhotoVoice project puts cameras in the hands of youth and encourages them to document how they are directly impacted by issues and conditions in their community.

Meet Irina, an OS, Inc. Youth Advocate Co-Chair and Spring 2026 PhotoVoice participant!

PhotoVoice project puts cameras in the hands of youth and encourages them to document how they are directly impacted by issues and conditions in their community.

Meet Loghan, an OS, Inc. Youth Advocate Co-Chair and Spring 2026 PhotoVoice participant!

PhotoVoice project puts cameras in the hands of youth and encourages them to document how they are directly impacted by issues and conditions in their community

A major initiative of Focus is our Photovoice Project. This year we have completed and initiated 7 photovoice projects with youth from across the state. If your school or youth group is interested in having us lead this project with your students, pl

You may think that since you don't gamble, it doesn't affect you.

But the thing is,
IT STILL DOES

When ads are something you are constantly exposed to, they start to feel harmless because:
It looks like everyone is doing it.
It seems like easy mone

Gambling prevention isn't just a campaign.

It's protecting mental health, futures, and youth.

Research shows:
Early gambling exposure normalizes risky behaviors due to youth brains still developing.
These risks can also show up in other ways, such

Gambling doesn't look like it used to.

It's not just casinos anymore.
It's sports betting.
It's influencer ads.
It's on TikTok.

What you see:
Big wins. Fast money. The excitement.

What you don't see:
The stress. The debt. The mental health impact.