Are We Raising a Generation of Gambling Addicts?

Are we raising a generation of gambling addicts? That may sound like an extreme question, but I think it’s one we need to ask. A new study from Common Sense Media found that 36% of boys ages 11 to 17 reported gambling in the past year. That’s more than one in three teen boys. That number is closer to 50% for just 17-year-old boys.

When I was growing up, gambling was something I associated with Las Vegas, Atlantic City, or the occasional poker game. I didn’t gamble for the first time until my mid-20s. Our kids are growing up in a very different and more dangerous environment. Gambling is everywhere—at sporting events, on social media, in video games, and other places online. Our kids are getting hooked in ways you might not expect. What can dads do about it? Here are some things every dad needs to know about gambling and teenagers.

Why is gambling becoming a problem for kids?

Gambling doesn’t always look like gambling anymore. Kids see betting odds during sporting events, hear commentators talk about parlays, see gambling advertisements, and encounter gambling-like experiences in video games. Let that sink in. It’s being normalized in the video games they play. They may start seeing gambling as normal entertainment before they’re old enough to understand the risks.

Now, let’s be clear: The 36% statistic doesn’t mean 36% of boys are gambling addicts. It means they reported gambling in the past year. But it does tell us something important: Gambling is already part of the experience of a significant number of boys.

What are the downsides of gambling for kids?

Financial Problems

Kids and teens can develop the mindset that money is something you can win quickly instead of something you earn through work, patience, investments, and wise decisions. When they lose, they may try to win it back, creating a cycle of chasing losses. When I lost $200 gambling, the first thing I wanted to do was win it back. Fortunately, I was in my mid-20s and better able to think through the consequences. Our kids are still developing the capability to do that.

Addiction and Compulsive Behavior

Gambling can become compulsive. A teenager may start thinking about gambling constantly, want to gamble more often, or feel like he needs to keep playing to get the same excitement. Because kids and teenagers are still developing impulse control and decision-making skills, they may be particularly vulnerable to risky behavior.

Anxiety, Depression, and Stress

Gambling problems can bring stress, anxiety, shame, and depression. Imagine a teenager losing money he wasn’t supposed to bet. Now he has to hide it from his parents. Then he loses more trying to win it back. Now he’s lying and worried about being caught. Suddenly, the problem isn’t just money. It’s secrecy, stress, and shame.

School and Relationship Problems

If a teenager is constantly thinking about the next bet or how to recover money he lost, that can take attention away from school, friendships, sports, and other healthy activities. Gambling can also damage trust. Kids may hide what they’re doing, lie about money, or borrow money from friends and family. When gambling becomes more important to teenagers than relationships, the people closest to them get hurt.

Long-Term Risk

Early exposure may establish habits and attitudes that follow kids into adulthood. Again, the 36% number doesn’t mean one in three boys will become addicted. But it should make us ask whether we’re creating a culture where gambling has become so normal that our kids don’t recognize the risks.

What can dads do about teens and gambling?

Start the conversation before there’s a problem.

Don’t wait until you discover your son has placed a bet. Talk about gambling with teenagers before it becomes personal.

Ask questions like:

“What do your friends think about gambling?”
“What do you think about sports gambling?”
“What parts of your video games have gambling? (Example: “Are there parts where you can pay money for something that’s unknown, like a box with mystery treasure in it?”
“What do you think some of the dangers of gambling are?”

The goal isn’t to interrogate your kid. It’s to make sure he knows he can talk to you. Be a safe place. Try to temper your reactions and encourage his responses.

Teach them how gambling works.

Our kids need to understand that gambling companies aren’t in business to lose money. The odds are designed so the house wins over time. Talk about probability, odds, and why a “sure thing” isn’t a sure thing.

I once showed a group of middle school boys how this works using M&M’s and playing cards. I became the house, and they became the players. By the end, the house had taken almost all of the M&M’s. It was a simple way to show them that the house isn’t trying to help you win.

Pay attention to what your kids are doing online.

Know what games they play. Know what apps they use. Know what they’re watching and what their friends are talking about. Gambling doesn’t always look like gambling. Some gaming mechanics involve randomized rewards or purchases that can resemble gambling. Parents need to understand what their kids are being exposed to.

Create an environment where kids can tell the truth.

If your child makes a mistake, you want him to come to you and say, “Dad, I did something stupid.” That doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be consequences. It means your relationship is strong enough that your child doesn’t feel like he has to hide. Our goal isn’t just to keep our kids from making bad decisions. It’s to build the kind of relationship where they come to us when they’re facing a bad decision.

Sound off: Have you talked to teenagers in your home about gambling? What have you said to them about sports betting or gambling online?

*If you have a problem with gambling, there’s no shame. Call 1-800-MY-RESET for help today.

This episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast discusses the unique challenges facing Generation Alpha and how dads and grandfathers can support them.