Youʼve noticed your teenage son spending more time on his phone, and when you ask what heʼs doing, he says heʼs “just watching sports.” But the credit card statement tells a different story. You notice small charges to unfamiliar companies, sometimes multiple times a day.
Across America, parents are confronting a troubling reality: Online gambling has evolved from a regulated casino activity into an always-accessible digital behavior thatʼs gripping male teens and young adults.
The convergence of smartphone accessibility, sports culture integration, and sophisticated marketing has created an environment where young people face unprecedented gambling exposure. And this exposure occurs during the exact developmental window when their brains are most vulnerable to addictive behaviors.
Understanding this situation is the first step toward protecting your child and recognizing when casual participation has crossed into dangerous territory.
Young Men and Online Gambling: A Public Health Crisis
Today, 90 percent of bets are now placed on phones, and the mobile betting market has exploded since legalization, with young adults heavily represented among users. Young people today don’t have to go anywhere to gamble—they carry betting platforms in their pockets 24/7.
This easy access has created what health experts now call a serious public health crisis, especially for young men, who are 3.4 times more likely than females to engage in problematic gambling.
Perhaps most concerning, young men who participate in gambling are more prone to developing a serious gambling problem.
Teens Are Gambling, Too
Furthermore, a 2026 report released by Common Sense Media revealed the trend is reaching teens. The survey of 1,017 adolescent boys ages 11–17 showed:
- 36 percent of adolescent boys report gambling in the past year
- 64 percent of teen boys participated in gaming-related online and 34 percent in sport-related gambling
- 27 percent of teen boys report experiencing negative effects from gambling, such as stress or conflict with parents
Nearly half of adolescent boys who gamble see online gambling content, mostly through social media feeds. Boys are also exposed to gambling via gaming influencers, many of whom are sponsored by gambling platforms and feature their ads on their livestreams.
How Do Teens Access Online Gambling?
Despite age limits, teens find many ways to access gambling sites. Understanding these loopholes helps you better protect your child.
- Weak age verification: While legal sites require ID, teens can easily fake birthdate entries, use simple checkboxes, or borrow identification from older siblings or friends. Some sites only check age at withdrawal time.
- Cryptocurrency gambling: These sites are especially problematic since they rarely verify age beyond a simple checkbox. Using crypto makes it nearly impossible for parents to track transactions via standard bank alerts.
- Free-to-play games: These games use virtual currency systems that mirror real gambling but fall outside regulatory oversight because they don’t award cash prizes directly. They still train young users in gambling behaviors and create the same addictive patterns.
- Offshore gambling: Operating with minimal oversight, these sites actively target US users with virtually no age verification. They advertise heavily on popular social media platforms among teens and offer signup bonuses to attract new users regardless of age.
When Are Kids Are Most Vulnerable to Problem Gambling?
The most dangerous time for gambling problems is between the ages of 16 and 22. This is when teens have more freedom, their own money, and more gambling opportunities—but their brains are still developing. Young men are especially at risk during these years.
Today’s digital world has sped everything up. While previous generations might have first encountered gambling in their late teens, today’s kids face it much earlier through video games, social media ads, and peer pressure.
Kids who begin gambling before age 18 are much more likely to develop a serious gambling problem later, compared to those who start after age 18. During adolescence, the brain’s reward system is extremely active, while the parts that control impulses and evaluate risks are still developing.
This creates a dangerous mismatch that makes young people especially vulnerable to gambling problems. And peer pressure also plays a role: The Common Sense report found that the highest rate of gambling (84 percent) is among boys who report that most or all of their friends gamble.
How Loot Boxes and Video Games Prime Teens for Gambling
Video games and gambling are becoming harder to tell apart. Games now include gambling-like features that can lead kids toward real betting later on.
Teens who play games with loot boxes (random reward packages you buy) are significantly more likely to start gambling with real money within a year. This isn’t just a coincidence. These game features work on the same brain pathways as slot machines.
When your child buys a loot box, they’re experiencing the same excitement and dopamine rush as someone pulling a slot machine lever. Both systems use:
- Random rewards that create anticipation
- Flashy visuals and sounds when you “win”
- The urge to keep trying after near-misses
One study found that loot box spending predicts problem gambling, with the relationship persisting even when controlling for other risk factors. The studyʼs authors concluded that loot boxes either serve as a gateway to gambling or attract individuals already predisposed to gambling-like behaviors. Both pathways represent significant concerns for developing adolescents.
Exposure to gambling activities during childhood and adolescence may lead to the development of gambling problems later in life. The earlier an individual starts gambling, the more likely they are to develop gambling-related problems.
American Psychological Association
Warning Signs of a Developing Gambling Problem
Recognizing problematic gambling behavior early dramatically improves treatment outcomes. Yet many parents struggle to distinguish normal adolescent risk-taking from genuine addiction.
Mental health professionals use specific diagnostic criteria to identify gambling disorders. Understanding these markers helps families intervene before financial and psychological consequences become severe.
Preoccupation
Preoccupation is one of the earliest warning signs. Be aware if your teen or young adult child:
- Has increasing thoughts about gambling and the next opportunity to bet
- Is constantly on their phone checking scores or odds
- Relives past gambling experiences and only wants to talk about games, betting, and gambling strategies
- Stops enjoying activities they used to love
Tolerance and Withdrawal
Tolerance and withdrawal mirror patterns seen in substance use disorders.
- Tolerance develops when someone needs to bet progressively larger amounts of money or take greater risks to achieve the same level of excitement. What started as $5 bets escalates to $50 or $500 wagers as the initial thrill diminishes.
- Withdrawal emerges when attempts to reduce gambling trigger restlessness, irritability, or anxiety. You might notice mood changes, sleep disturbances, or increased conflict when there’s a lack of access to gambling platforms.
Lying to You About Gambling
Watch for dishonesty, as it often means that gambling has become serious. This includes:
- Lying to you about where they’ve been or what they’ve been doing
- Hiding financial transactions
- Creating fake stories to cover their gambling
Money Troubles
Parents should be concerned if a teen or young adult child:
- Suddenly needs money without clear reasons
- Starts selling their belongings
- Seems financially stressed without explanation
Inability to Stop Gambling
When your child can’t stop gambling despite trying over and over, that’s a red flag. They might feel truly sorry after losing money and promise “never again,” but then they’re back at it within days or even hours. This isn’t just about needing more willpower; this cycle shows they’ve lost control.
When gambling starts damaging a teen boy’s or young man’s relationships, schoolwork, or future opportunities, the problem has advanced significantly. At this point, professional help is needed because they can’t break free on their own.
Gambling and Mental Health in Young Males
Gambling problems almost always come with other mental health challenges. To treat gambling effectively, it’s important to address these underlying issues as well.
Sometimes gambling causes mental health issues or makes them worse. But gambling can also be a coping mechanism for teens and young men with existing conditions. Young people often say they gamble to escape bad emotions, find excitement, or feel hopeful for a short time.
Here’s how mental health conditions and gambling can intersect:
- Depression and anxiety: Gambling’s negative effects—such as money troubles, damaged relationships, and shame—can make depression and anxiety worse. But young people also gamble to cope with depression. In one study, adolescents reporting high depressive symptoms were significantly more likely to report online gambling one year later.
- Other addictions: Gambling addiction works in the brain much like drug addiction, triggering the same reward system and dopamine release. Research finds that young people with gambling problems are also more likely to develop substance use disorders and other process addictions (such as porn or gaming addictions).
- Risky behaviors: Many people with gambling problems also struggle with impulse control in other areas, such as risky driving, unsafe sex, or stealing.
- Suicidal thoughts and attempts: Feelings of shame, hopelessness, and fear related to gambling can quickly increase suicidal behaviors. One study found that suicidal behavior was 11 times more common in people with gambling disorder.
How Should Parents Talk to Teens About Gambling?
Talking to your kids about gambling isn’t easy. You want to inform them without sounding like a textbook or appearing judgmental. Many parents either skip this conversation altogether or go into lecture mode, which just makes kids tune out.
The good news? There are research-backed ways to have this talk that actually work. By striking a balance between being educational and relatable, you’ll create an environment where your child feels comfortable being honest with you.
Normalize your child’s experiences.
Rather than leading with prohibition, recognize their reality: “I know sports betting ads are everywhere, and a lot of your friends probably talk about it.”
This validation demonstrates that you understand their world rather than lecturing from a disconnected adult perspective. From this foundation, you can introduce concerns without triggering defensive reactions.
Focus on brain development rather than moral judgment.
Explain that their brains are still developing, particularly the regions responsible for impulse control and risk assessment. Frame this as biology, not a character flaw:
“Your brain is still building the parts that help evaluate risk and control impulses. Gambling companies know this and specifically design their platforms to exploit these developmental vulnerabilities.” This approach educates without shaming.
Use concrete examples and mathematical realities.
Many teens believe they can “beat the system” through skill or strategy. Walk through the actual mathematics: “If a sportsbook offers you a bet, theyʼve already calculated that theyʼll make money on average. The odds are literally designed so the house wins over time.”
Discuss how promotional offers work and how free bets and bonuses come with restrictions that ensure the platform profits regardless of individual outcomes.
Share real consequences without catastrophizing.
Discuss the connection between gambling and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Mention the financial devastation that can occur, including debt accumulation and damaged credit, which can affect future opportunities.
Be honest about suicide risk, which increases significantly among individuals with gambling problems, particularly when combined with financial crises. Present these facts seriously but without exaggerating in a way that makes them dismiss you as just being dramatic.
Establish clear expectations and boundaries while maintaining connection.
You might say: “Iʼm not going to monitor your every move, but I need to know you understand the risks. If youʼre struggling with gambling or seeing friends who are, I want you to feel safe telling me.”
Create specific agreements around finances, device usage, and transparency that respect age-appropriate autonomy while implementing protective structures.
Moving Forward: Building Recovery and Resilience
Digital technology will continue to evolve, bringing both risks and benefits for young people. With proper education, early help, and treatment when needed, we can prepare them to handle these changes wisely.
As a parent, staying informed, talking openly, spotting warning signs, and getting professional help when necessary can prevent small problems from becoming serious crises.
Recovery is achievable with appropriate intervention and comprehensive support. The key lies in early recognition, family involvement, and treatment that addresses both the addiction and underlying factors.
Treatment for Teens and Young Adults at Newport
At Newport Healthcare, we can help young people overcome gambling addiction, address underlying issues like depression or anxiety, and rebuild healthier relationships with technology, risk, and reward. We offer programming for teens ages 12–18 and young adults ages 18–35.
Our evidence-based approach combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy specifically adapted for gambling disorder, Motivational Interviewing, Attachment-Based Family Therapy to rebuild trust between parents and children, and treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions. Group therapy reduces shame and isolation, and building peer support networks is crucial for sustained recovery.
Throughout treatment, we emphasize digital wellness, helping clients develop balanced relationships with technology that acknowledge both risks and benefits.
Concerned about your childʼs gambling behavior or want to discuss prevention strategies? Our clinical team can help you assess the situation and determine appropriate next steps. Contact Newport Healthcare for a no-cost, confidential consultation.
Sources:
Betting on Boys: Understanding Gambling Among Adolescent Boys: Common Sense Media, January 2026
Int Gambling Studies. 2026 Jan; 1–18: 10.1080
J Gambl Stud. 2025 Oct: 10.1007.
Psychiatry Res. 2025 Jun; 348: 116476.
J Behav Addict. 2024 Sep;13(3): 702-715.
PLOS ONE. 2018; 14(3): e0214167.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
American Psychological Association