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Nearly 43% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 reported gambling in the past year, according to a new Rutgers University study. About 11% of those who gambled were classified as high risk for gambling problems.
Rutgers’ Center for Gambling Studies released the findings after surveying 1,677 people ages 13 to 27. The study covered both online and in-person activity and looked at the role of family gambling.
Survey covers bingo, raffles, and sports betting
The researchers asked about 21 activities, ranging from bingo and raffles to sports betting, cryptocurrency trading and prediction markets. The report also counts games of skill, including board games, trivia and similar activities played for money.
Nearly one in five teenage gamblers (18.9%) said they gambled at least once a week.
Rutgers used a nine-question screening tool to assess gambling-related problems over the past year. People in the high-risk group reported substantial problems, though the classification alone does not amount to a clinical diagnosis.
Family gambling stands out among high-risk teens
More than half of teens surveyed (51.5%) said a family or household member gambled. Among teenage gamblers classified as high risk, 75.5% had a family member who gambled, while 61.2% said they had gambled with a family member.
Across all respondents, those who had gambled with a family member were more than four times as likely to fall into the high-risk group. The survey did not establish that gambling with family members caused the higher risk.
“We cannot wait until young people reach adulthood to begin addressing gambling-related harm,” said Lia Nower, director of Rutgers’ Center for Gambling Studies.
The researchers recommended starting prevention education in middle school and giving students, parents, teachers and counselors information about the risks.
Pennsylvania launched an underage gambling awareness campaign earlier this year to help parents recognize risks and talk with their children. The state also cautions parents against involving children in activities such as buying lottery tickets, betting on sports, using casino apps and playing bingo.
Warning signs can appear in a teen’s spending and daily routine
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s guidance on teenage gambling lists several behaviors that parents and other family members should watch for:
- Borrowing or stealing money to gamble.
- Placing more bets in an attempt to recover losses.
- Lying to friends or family about gambling.
- Missing important events to gamble.
- Feeling the need to bet more.
Warning signs can show up in other parts of a teen’s life, too. Grades may slip, or they may pull away from friends and lose interest in activities they used to enjoy.
Parents can get a clearer picture of what their children encounter online by looking at the games, apps and social platforms they use.
Age ratings, in-game purchases and chat features are worth checking, along with the parental controls available on each platform. Changes in a teen’s spending or gaming habits may also give families a reason to take a closer look.
Pennsylvania offers confidential help for families
Pennsylvania’s gambling helpline is free, confidential and available around the clock. Residents can call 1-800-GAMBLER, text 800GAM or use the online chat linked through the state’s Problem Gambling Services page.
Families can also use the state’s county-by-county provider search to find outpatient counseling, case management and telehealth services for people affected by gambling problems.
