The Rising Epidemic of Underage Sports Betting in America

In a Manhattan apartment, a group of high school boys gathered for what was traditionally a Super Bowl celebration. But this year, 17-year-old Max noticed something disturbing: the entire event had transformed into a betting fest. “It used to be for the experience, but this year it wasn’t,” he confided. “The theme of the party was essentially betting.” This moment marked Max’s realization that sports betting had evolved from casual entertainment into a genuine addiction among his peers. The situation has grown so concerning that some teenagers are dipping into their savings accounts and bar mitzvah funds to place bets. Max revealed that many sacrifice sleep and academics just to watch games they’ve wagered on, regardless of their actual interest in the sport itself. At his private Manhattan school, he estimates a staggering 80% of male students have placed bets, with about half of them gambling regularly despite being underage. According to the New York Council on Problem Gambling, approximately 90% of high school students surveyed reported gambling at least once in the previous year—a statistic that confirms Max’s observations aren’t isolated incidents.

The accessibility of betting for underage users is alarmingly straightforward. Major platforms like FanDuel and DraftKings have become household names among teenagers, with many accessing these platforms through their parents’ accounts. Max’s own father created a FanDuel account using his personal information and banking details, then handed control to his son. “We’d be saying, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s not a big deal,'” Max recalled of the conversations with parents. “‘You know, we all have it, and we’re not betting a lot of money.'” His father admitted to The Post, “I said fine. I just didn’t think anything about it.” This cavalier attitude toward underage gambling has facilitated its spread, with Max noting that betting discussions have become ubiquitous in classrooms. “At school, it’s all kids with their gambling apps in class,” he said. “And it never stops because it’s football season, then basketball, then baseball.” Perhaps most alarming is the age at which children begin gambling—Max knows bettors as young as 11, and middle schoolers for whom gambling has become their primary topic of conversation.

The psychological vulnerability of teenagers makes them particularly susceptible to gambling addiction. Keith Whyte, President of Safer Gambling Strategies, explained that teenage boys demonstrate the highest rates of participation in online sports betting. His organization reports that 5% of children aged 12-17 now have gambling problems—four times the number from just two years ago. “The part of their brain that governs risk and reward and decision-making is not fully matured,” Whyte noted. This neurological reality, combined with the unprecedented accessibility of betting platforms, creates what he describes as “a toxic cocktail of risk.” Max’s father has observed this vulnerability firsthand: “They all think there’s a level of skill and knowledge that they have… It’s the mindset of teenage boys—they feel like, ‘I’m smarter than adults, I can figure this out.'” He suspects betting companies deliberately target young users: “If you get someone when they’re young, it’s almost like a rewiring of their brain. It’s clearly part of the business strategy, even though they won’t say it.”

The gambling industry maintains that they prohibit underage access, with FanDuel stating that allowing others to use an account “will result in a permanent ban.” They point to resources like their “Conversations about Betting” portal, which offers guidance to parents. However, determined teenagers find workarounds. James, a 17-year-old from New Jersey (where the gambling age is 21), accessed FanDuel through a family friend without his parents’ knowledge. Initially betting money earned from his online clothing business, he considered it harmless entertainment with “huge potential upside.” But when introduced to the casino section of the platform, his casual betting transformed into addiction: “If you’re betting on an NFL game, it’s three hours. Once I moved over to the casino thing, that’s when it became an addiction.” Over two years, James wagered more than $18,000, ultimately losing $2,000. He quit only after realizing his bank statement showed nothing but FanDuel transactions for an entire week: “It became more stressful than fun, and I was doing it every day.”

The consequences of youth gambling addiction extend far beyond financial losses. Attorney Benjamin Schenk, representing complainants in an upcoming lawsuit concerning underage online gambling addiction, has encountered cases where children “have been groomed through influencer gambling culture” and view gambling as “a positive expression of masculinity.” His youngest client is only 12 years old. “I’ve met kids who lost a decent amount of money, got embarrassed, tried to win it back, and then when they lost it again self-harmed,” Schenk added. Lewis Bigmore from the UK experienced firsthand how an early win can lead to devastating addiction. After winning $85,000 on a bet placed under his father’s name at age 16, he eventually gained access to the money at 18 and subsequently lost it all within three years, eventually taking out payday loans to support his habit. The shame and isolation of addiction caused him to withdraw from family and friends, wondering, “How do you get addicted to losing money?” Isaac Rose-Berman, a professional sports bettor who now educates teenagers about gambling risks, tells students bluntly: “I hire PhDs to run my models. You’re not doing that. If you win, it’s just gonna be getting lucky. You’re basically getting fleeced.”

Despite mounting evidence of widespread underage gambling, parental awareness remains disturbingly low. A 2024 University of Michigan poll found that only 2% of American parents believe their teen has used an online betting platform. This disconnect between perception and reality creates an environment where the problem grows unchecked. Attorney Schenk warns parents: “The gulf between what is actually happening among high school students and what parents suspect couldn’t be wider. If you think your kid isn’t engaging in this behavior, really question yourself.” Some states are beginning to address the issue—Massachusetts has launched an investigation into youth gambling harms, while Virginia has integrated gambling addiction education into school curricula. However, the normalization of betting through ubiquitous advertising on sports networks, podcasts, and social media continues to influence young minds. As DraftKings maintains they use “advanced Know Your Customer technology” to verify age, the reality on the ground suggests these measures are easily circumvented. The gap between industry safeguards and the real-world experiences of teenagers like Max and James indicates that the problem of underage gambling requires far more comprehensive solutions than currently exist.