Rising Tide of Underage Sports Betting: Teens in NYC Face Addiction Crisis

Max, a 17-year-old high school senior in Manhattan, experienced a disheartening shift at his friends’ annual Super Bowl party this year. What was once a celebration of camaraderie and football had morphed into a gathering centered around sports betting. “It used to be for the experience, but this year it wasn’t,” he lamented. Instead of enjoying the game, his friends were preoccupied with placing bets, highlighting a concerning trend that has infiltrated the lives of teenagers.

This revelation led Max to a troubling realization: sports betting is becoming an addiction among his peers. He shared that many students, at times even younger than him, are now tapping into their savings or bar mitzvah funds to gamble. “I know kids who stay up super late and sacrifice their grades to watch sports across the country, just because they can bet on it,” he stated. The irony lies in the fact that, while New Yorkers must be 18 to legally place a bet, a staggering 90% of high school students surveyed by the New York Council on Problem Gambling admitted to having gambled at least once in the past year.

At Max’s school, apps like FanDuel and DraftKings dominate the betting landscape. He estimates that around 80% of boys in his class have participated in betting, with a significant portion using their parents’ accounts to access these platforms. “We’d be saying, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s not a big deal,’” Max recalled, reflecting on how he and his friends rationalized their actions to their parents. “I just didn’t think anything about it,” said Max’s father, who opened a FanDuel account for his son. This casual approach to betting, however, belies a deeper, systemic issue.

Keith Whyte, President of Safer Gambling Strategies, underscores the gravity of the situation, noting that teenage boys are especially vulnerable to gambling addiction. “The part of their brain that governs risk and reward and decision-making is not fully matured,” he explained. This developmental gap, combined with the easy accessibility of gambling apps, forms a dangerous cocktail for impressionable youth. He reported a shocking statistic: 5% of kids aged 12-17 now exhibit gambling problems, a figure that has quadrupled in just two years.

The normalization of gambling culture is evident not only among high school students but also in the media landscape. With constant advertisements for betting companies during sports broadcasts and sponsorships on popular podcasts, the allure of gambling has become deeply ingrained in youth culture. Max expressed concern about the younger generation, sharing that even middle schoolers are starting to gamble—a phenomenon he believes was not present just a few years ago. “It’s crazy,” he said, emphasizing the rapid shift in attitudes towards betting.

The narrative of addiction is further illustrated by the stories of individuals like Lewis Bigmore, who, at 16, won a substantial jackpot but later found himself ensnared in a cycle of debt and isolation stemming from his gambling habits. “If you get someone when they’re young, it’s almost like a rewiring of their brain,” his father remarked, suggesting that the strategies employed by betting companies may intentionally target younger audiences.

James, a 17-year-old from New Jersey, shares a similar story. He began betting casually with money earned from selling clothes online, but soon found himself addicted after exploring the online casino features of the betting app. “It became more stressful than fun,” he admitted, revealing a stark reality where the thrill of potential winnings is often overshadowed by the anxiety of losses.

As awareness of the dangers of underage gambling grows, legal efforts are underway to address the issue. Recent legislative actions, like the gambling addiction education bill passed in Virginia, aim to incorporate discussions about the risks of gambling into school curricula. However, a significant disconnect remains: a 2024 poll from the University of Michigan revealed that only 2% of American parents believe their teens have used online betting platforms. Attorney Benjamin Schenk cautions parents, urging them to reconsider their assumptions: “The gulf between what is actually happening among high school students and what parents suspect couldn’t be wider.”

In the face of these challenges, education and open dialogues about gambling risks are more essential than ever. As Max and his peers navigate this evolving landscape, understanding the psychological and social impacts of sports betting could be the key to fostering healthier attitudes toward gambling. The stakes are high, and the time for action is now.