Sports betting is an activity that has been conducted since the ancient Olympic games. In modern times, it’s been an activity reserved for adults, but new technologies have caused youth to slip through protections provided by the government. On May 14th, 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amatuer Sports Protection Act, leaving the legality of sports betting up to states. Sports betting is currently legal in all but eleven states, and its evolution from casinos to apps has caused it to become a ten-billion-dollar industry (Goldman Sachs, 2024). In all cases, gambling can become harmful, but youth and teens are especially vulnerable. New online sports betting platforms have weak age verification systems that increase accessibility to youth who are left predisposed to risk for the rest of their lives.
Gambling is a highly addictive activity that when paired with sports is highly appealing to teens because of the perceived ability to make money quickly and with minimal effort. Many start out participating in sports betting as a fun social activity after being introduced by friends. One sports bettor Rayteng has stated that a casual start led to, “spending more than an hour each day on the app”. Teens can easily lie about their ages or identities when signing up for gambling platforms leading to “80% of high schoolers say[ing] that they’ve gambled for money in the past year” (Weintraub, 2018). Youth within that 80% are at risk for developing addiction, even if they’re not especially concerned. According to psychologist Monica Gutkowska, “[Teens are] less likely to see it becoming a problem, sports betting starts out as innocent but it stimulates the same brain systems as substances.” The many effects of gambling addiction include neglecting responsibilities, harming communication, and increasing isolation, all of which contribute to increased anxiety paired with lowered self esteem. Perhaps the most troubling effect is the increased financial risk teens are exposed to. Spending more than one percent of income on gambling is known to be harmful, most teens end up spending more. They pick up bad habits by risking money for potential, but unrealistic, quick gains. Parents should talk to their children about the dangers of sports betting, while teens themselves should look out for flashy promotional deals and know that they are safer without sports betting.
Sources:
Monika Gutkowska - Psychologist
Raytneg Skotmyr - Whitney Young Student
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