The short version
- A recent survey indicates that over forty percent of American teenagers engaged in gambling last year, with ten percent of those participants showing high risk for problem gambling.
- Executives from major sports betting platforms argue that parents must initiate discussions about addiction, while denying corporate responsibility for the rise in underage wagering.
- Mental health professionals report a significant shift in their patient demographics, noting that a growing majority of individuals seeking help for gambling disorders are now under twenty-five.
The landscape of adolescent risk behavior is shifting rapidly as new data reveals widespread engagement with gambling among American teenagers. A survey conducted by the Rutgers University Center for Gambling Studies found that more than forty-two percent of youths aged thirteen to seventeen reported participating in some form of gambling within the past year. Among this subset of young people, ten percent were identified as being at high risk for developing problem gambling habits. These figures have prompted a contentious debate between public health advocates and industry representatives regarding who bears responsibility for mitigating harm.
Leaders from prominent online sports betting companies are responding to these trends by urging families to address the issue directly. Jason Robins, chief executive of DraftKings, recently stated that every parent should engage in conversations with their children about the dangers of gambling addiction. This stance is echoed by other industry figures who frame parental involvement as the primary defense against youth exploitation. By positioning themselves as partners in education rather than architects of risk, these companies aim to distance their business models from the negative outcomes observed in clinical settings.
Critics argue that this approach effectively shifts the burden of prevention onto households while allowing corporations to avoid accountability for product design and marketing practices. Matt Missar, a therapist in Pittsburgh who treats dozens of patients with gambling issues monthly, contends that parental dialogue does not excuse the industry from implementing stronger safeguards. He notes that half of his clients began betting before reaching the legal age, suggesting that early exposure is a critical factor in the development of long-term addiction. The demographic shift in his practice is stark; whereas his patient list once included a wide range of ages, it is now dominated by individuals under twenty-five.
The commercial sports betting sector has expanded dramatically since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on such activities in 2018. Currently, thirty-nine states and Washington, D.C., have legalized sports wagering, leading to a surge in operator revenues. According to the American Gaming Association, the industry generated more than $16.8 billion in revenue in 2025, representing a twenty-two percent increase from the previous year. Nearly all of this income derives from online bets, facilitated by ubiquitous advertising from major brands like DraftKings and FanDuel, as well as prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket.
Industry representatives maintain that legalization has made gambling safer by displacing illegal markets with regulated environments that enforce strict age verification. Joe Maloney, president of the Sports Betting Alliance, argues that normalization helps expand clinical capacity for those struggling with disorder. He disputes studies linking legalization to increased addiction rates, suggesting instead that higher diagnosis numbers reflect improved awareness and coding practices among healthcare providers rather than a true rise in prevalence. A spokesperson for FanDuel emphasized that regulated platforms are required to verify customer identities, contrasting them with unlicensed sites that lack such protections.
However, evidence cited by public health experts challenges the industry’s narrative. A study published in June by Epic Research found that states which legalized sports betting saw a sixty-one percent increase in adult diagnoses of gambling disorder between 2018 and 2026. In contrast, states where betting remained illegal experienced a twenty-nine percent decrease in such diagnoses. While industry leaders dismiss these findings as artifacts of diagnostic coding changes, the correlation suggests that market expansion may indeed drive higher rates of problematic behavior among both adults and minors.
The types of gambling activities favored by minors also warrant attention. The Rutgers study identified scratch-off tickets, bingo, lottery tickets, raffle tickets, and slot machines as the most popular forms of wagering among teenagers. Only twenty percent of young gamblers placed bets on sports, though males were more than twice as likely as females to do so. Industry observers attribute this trend to the digitized gaming environments that teenagers navigate daily, arguing that the line between video games and gambling is increasingly blurred for younger audiences.
Medical professionals are sounding alarms about the accessibility of these products. Dr. Shawn Kelly, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent addiction, reports that nearly a third of his male patients now present with gambling problems, a significant departure from just a few years ago when such issues were rare in his practice. He criticizes the industry for offloading responsibility onto parents while generating substantial profits. As the debate continues, policymakers face pressure to balance economic growth with public health concerns, particularly regarding the protection of vulnerable youth populations.
The path forward remains uncertain as stakeholders clash over regulatory solutions. While companies insist their platforms are safe and that parental guidance is sufficient, clinicians argue for stricter industry standards and enhanced protections for minors. The disparity between corporate messaging and clinical reality highlights a growing tension in how society addresses behavioral addictions in the digital age. Without consensus on effective prevention strategies, the number of young people affected by gambling disorders may continue to rise.
As legislative bodies consider new measures to curb underage access, the focus remains on whether current safeguards are adequate. The industry’s emphasis on education and self-regulation stands in contrast to calls for more robust legal restrictions. Until a clear resolution emerges, parents and healthcare providers remain on the front lines of a crisis that shows no signs of abating, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive policy reform.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗DraftKings and other betting sites urge parents to talk to kids about gambling – but disavow role in increase in teen wagering
