Nearly Half Of US Teens Ages 13 To 17 Say They Gambled In Past Year

There was a time when the casino was a neon fortress in the desert, walled off by velvet ropes, age checks, and security guards stationed at every doorway. Today, for millions of American children, the casino sits quietly in the palm of their hand. On Wednesday, October 29, a groundbreaking national survey from Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies pulled back the curtain on a sobering reality: nearly half of American adolescents are already placing real bets before they are legally old enough to drive.

The landmark study surveyed nearly 1,700 young Americans between the ages of 13 and 27, uncovering that 52.5% of all respondents had gambled within the past twelve months. But the most alarming finding sat among minors: nearly 43% of teens ages 13 to 17 admitted to betting — an activity strictly illegal nationwide for that age bracket. Lead researcher Lia Nower, director of the Rutgers center, sounded the alarm: "We are living in a time where anyone can have a casino or sports book in their pocket." Nower noted that many teens now wager on sports alongside family members at home, signaling a cultural shift in how casually youth are introduced to gambling risks.

Even more concerning is what happens after the initial wager. According to data published by the Rutgers Center for Gambling Studies, nearly 40% of young gamblers exhibited early warning signs of "problem gambling," and roughly 10% met psychiatric criteria for high-risk addiction. Among underage teens specifically, about 11% were classified as high-risk — with addiction rates holding identical between teenage boys and girls.

The survey defined gambling broadly, spanning scratch-off lottery tickets, bingo, street games, crypto trading, fantasy betting, and prediction markets. As reported by Legal Sports Report, scratch-offs ranked as the most common entry point, followed by sports wagering apps and speculative digital markets.

Child psychologists, youth pastors, and education experts are now urging schools to integrate gambling risk education into middle school curriculums and calling on parents to maintain open, honest dialogue around digital apps. As Dr. Nower emphasized, "Prevention must start earlier, screening must be broader, and public policy must recognize that the gambling environment has changed dramatically."

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