Navigating Today's Gambling Landscape: My Thoughts on Youth Protection
After more than 30 years in the responsible gambling space, I've witnessed tremendous progress in how we approach gambling harm prevention.
When FanDuel approached me about working as a Strategic Advisor to their Responsible Gaming program, I was both impressed by their proactive approach to responsible gaming, and excited for the opportunity to further contribute to this progress. The Trusted Voices program embodies what I believe is essential: equipping individuals with the necessary information and practical tools to understand the risks of gambling and avenues for support. I'm excited to contribute my experience to advancing these critical efforts.
Why This Work Matters More Than Ever
Today's gambling landscape presents both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. We have more sophisticated tools and resources than ever before to promote responsible play and identify potential problems early. At the same time, young people face exposure to gambling and gambling-like activities through multiple channels—from traditional sports betting to social casino games to offshore platforms that don’t verify age and lack consumer protections.
This environment makes it more crucial than ever for parents, coaches, and mentors to stay informed and engaged. Research consistently shows that early awareness and education are our most powerful tools for prevention. When adults understand the landscape and feel equipped to have these conversations, we can significantly reduce the risk of gambling-related harm in young people.
Common Questions from Parents and Trusted Adults
Over the years, I've heard similar concerns from parents and mentors across the country. Here are some of the most common questions and my perspective on each:
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Understanding today's gambling landscape is crucial for effective conversations with young people. While 39 states offer legalized sports betting and 5 allow online casino to individuals of a certain age, illegal and unregulated gambling platforms are accessible within any state.
Legal gambling requires age and identity verification at the point of account opening, and occurs on platforms with consumer protections and tools. However, young people may encounter unregulated sites that bypass these safeguards or use social media advertising that targets minors. They may also be exposed to gambling-adjacent activities through loot boxes in video games, crypto trading or NFT speculation.
They might also access gambling through proxy betting—using someone else's account or identity to gamble, which is illegal. I want to make an important note here - proxy betting can occur without or WITH the adult’s knowledge or consent. I’ve heard plenty of stories of a parent either letting their kid use their information to open a gambling account, or placing bets with or for them on their own accounts. Putting aside the illegality issue, this is very problematic for multiple reasons. First, it exposes young people to gambling at an age where they don’t have the level of impulse control or understanding of the risk, and puts them at heightened risk of developing a problematic relationship with gambling. Second, in this scenario they likely aren’t fully understanding the consequences since the losses are not coming out of their pockets.
Being aware of these various access points helps you have more informed conversations and better monitor potential risks.
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The line between gaming and gambling has become increasingly blurred, especially with social casino apps and in-game purchases. If real money is being wagered with the possibility of winning or losing more money, it's gambling—regardless of how it's marketed. Even "social" or "sweepstakes" platforms can serve as gateways to traditional gambling. When in doubt, look for whether real money or items of value are at stake.
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Any gambling by minors is concerning, regardless of the amount. Research shows that people who start gambling as teenagers are three to four times more likely to develop gambling problems later in life compared to those who start as adults. What seems like harmless fun among friends can quickly escalate, especially when combined with the developing adolescent brain and tendencies toward risk-taking or poor impulse control.
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First, secure your accounts immediately by changing passwords, enabling additional authentication, or contacting the operator’s customer support directly to let them know. The most impactful thing you can do for the young person in your life is have a direct conversation about the risks. Don't hesitate to consult resources, like ConversationsAboutBetting.com, or seek out professional support if you need guidance on next steps.
Moving Forward Together
The goal isn't to create fear around gambling, but to build an understanding and awareness of the risks. The landscape will continue to evolve, but our commitment to protecting young people through education, awareness, and proactive conversations remains constant.
Additional resources can be found on the Trusted Voices: Conversations About Betting site.