A new national study from Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies shows that gambling among American teens is far more common than many realize. Researchers surveyed roughly 1,700 people ages 13 to 27 and found that 52.5% of respondents had gambled in the past year. Among those 17 and under – for whom gambling is illegal – the share was nearly 43%.
Why the numbers matter
“We are living in a time where anyone can have a casino or sports book in their pocket,” said Lia Nower, director of the Rutgers center and lead author of the report. She warned that teens who should be playing sports are instead betting on them, often with family members.
The study, the first national gambling prevalence survey of U.S. adolescents and young adults in almost two decades, also found that nearly 40% of teen gamblers showed symptoms of problem gambling, and 10% could be considered high‑risk problem gamblers. Among the under‑18 gamblers, about 11% were classified as high risk for problems.
How gambling reaches youth
Researchers defined gambling broadly, counting 21 activities that involve wagering money or something of material value – from scratch‑off tickets and bingo to cryptocurrency trading and prediction markets. The most common activity reported was scratch‑off tickets, followed by bingo and lottery tickets. About one‑fifth of gamblers said they had participated in sports betting, and just over 6% reported betting in prediction markets.
“Gambling is no longer confined to casinos and lottery tickets. It is increasingly embedded in video games, sports broadcasts and other products young people can access,” Nower said. The Supreme Court’s 2018 decision that struck down the federal ban on state‑run sports betting has led to an explosion of betting options, with some form of sports gambling now legal in 39 states and Washington, D.C.
Calls for action
Nower urged parents, educators, health professionals and policymakers to treat the findings as a wake‑up call. “We cannot wait until young people reach adulthood to begin addressing gambling‑related harm,” she said. “Prevention must start earlier, screening must be broader, and public policy must recognize that the gambling environment has changed dramatically.”
For families concerned about teen gambling, experts recommend open conversations about the risks, monitoring of mobile apps and gaming platforms, and seeking professional help if signs of problem gambling appear.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
