Over a Third of U.S. Boys Gamble Before 18

More than a third of U.S. boys gamble before they turn 18, and advocates say schools should teach gambling literacy and basic personal finance to reduce youth harm. The proposal focuses on probability, critical thinking and recognizing risky behavior before habits form.

Since legal access to sports betting expanded in 2018, consumer spending on sports wagering rose from roughly $4.9 billion annually to an estimated $166 billion by 2025. More than half of U.S. residents now have access to mobile sportsbooks or online casinos. Growth in the market and frequent advertising on social platforms have increased the chances that teenagers encounter gambling content.

A recent analysis found that over one in three boys ages 11 to 17 will gamble before turning 18; the rate reaches about 49% among 17-year-olds. The study reports that nearly one in four boys take part in game-based, betting-like behavior, and most of those players spend real money. Six in ten boys see gambling ads on YouTube and social media. About one in eight reported betting on sports or participating in traditional gambling such as card games or scratch-off lottery tickets. Peer influence is strong: more than 80% of teens whose friends gamble also gamble, while fewer than 20% of teens with non-gambling friends do so on their own.

Researchers and advocates cite adolescent brain development and a tendency toward risk-taking as factors that make young people vulnerable to gambling harm. Reported harms include stress, family or friend conflicts, and lost time that affects schoolwork and relationships. Many teens do not label their own behavior as problematic, and episodes can go unnoticed by parents and teachers.

Isaac Rose-Berman, a fellow at the American Institute for Boys and Men who has worked as a sports bettor and poker player, argues that high schools offer a practical setting to reach large numbers of adolescents. Rose-Berman told an interviewer, “You are not; the odds are actually stacked against you,” when describing common gambler expectations. He supports lessons that explain odds and show how marketing and influencer content can glamorize quick wins.

Rose-Berman recommends against abstinence-only education for gambling, saying similar approaches for drugs, alcohol and sex have not reduced engagement. He favors practical instruction on probability, risk recognition and how to spot when gambling shifts from pastime to problem. He also urges that education cover gambling-like mechanics in video games, such as loot boxes, and note how family traditions can normalize betting.

The American Institute for Boys and Men is developing youth-oriented gambling literacy curricula and plans to build on existing programs in Massachusetts, Victoria, Alberta and Ontario. Advocates say curricula should be updated as industry practices and marketing change and should incorporate teacher feedback during pilot lessons. They describe school-based education as one element of a broader effort that includes public policy and community measures to limit youth gambling harm.