Regulators - Minors have easy access to online gambling

WASHINGTON -- Many gambling Web sites lack adequate safeguards and warnings to prevent children and teen-agers from placing illegal bets, federal regulators said Tuesday.

In a survey of 100 popular Internet gambling sites, the Federal Trade Commission found that one in five had no warnings for minors and most had disclaimers that were hard to find. The sites also lacked screening mechanisms to keep children out or had blocks that children could easily get around.

In a warning to parents, the FTC added that online gambling can be addictive.