Adolescent gambling is a growing concern in today’s digital world, especially as internet access becomes nearly universal among children and teens. While gambling is often associated with casinos or lottery tickets, young people can be exposed to gambling and what we can call gambling-like behaviors far earlier, and sometimes without even realizing it. Whether it’s placing a casual bet with a friend on a sporting event, engaging with simulated gambling features in a favorite video game, or betting on sports on a phone using an adult’s login, these experiences can introduce young minds to the thrill of winning and the excitement of chance. This post explores the intersection of gaming and gambling, the potential impacts on youth well-being, and, most importantly, how parents, caregivers, and therapists can navigate these challenges with knowledge, compassion, and confidence.
What Exactly Constitutes Gambling for a Child or Teen?
Before addressing the risks, it is crucial to clearly define what gambling is and what it is not. Gambling involves two key elements: wagering something of value (such as money, prizes, or virtual items) and an outcome that is at least partly determined by chance.
A child playing a competitive game of basketball or a strategic board game for fun is not gambling. However, a child who bets on whether their friend can make five shots in a row is gambling. One involves skill or chance without the risk of losing something valuable, and the other involves chance with the risk of losing something of value. This distinction matters because it helps parents and clinicians identify genuinely risky behaviors without creating unnecessary alarm about normal, healthy play.
Gambling can start at a surprisingly young age. Research shows that up to 70% of adolescents who gamble start around age 12. These early bets are typically placed with family and friends. This can be fun and may be a learning experience if they review risk, probability, and statistics. However, research indicates that peers who bet and talk about gambling may normalize gambling, and it is possible that this could fuel curiosity and expand engagement in gambling. Even adult conversations about sports betting, family game nights that involve wagering, participating in scratchers, or exposure to betting opportunities online can normalize gambling. Children and adolescents learn from watching and listening to their most present and powerful role models. The old saying about “little pitchers have big ears” is not necessarily bad. It does, however, remind us of the importance of adults and peers who influence our children.
How Do Video Games Fit Into the Picture?
Video games themselves are not a gateway to gambling. Millions of children and adolescents play them every day without it leading to gambling activity, while still enjoying the creativity, strategy, and social connection the games offer. The concern arises when games incorporate gambling mechanics. Some video games do embed gambling characteristics (remember, gambling is risking something of value on an outcome at least partially determined by chance).
Features such as “loot boxes” (randomized reward systems purchased with real money) or in-game betting opportunities (virtual roulette wheels, coin flips, and jackpots for in-game items) expose young players to the intermittent rewards and interactivity characteristic of gambling. These intermittent rewards can spike dopamine and reinforce “just one more” loop thinking. Furthermore, digital channels like Twitch and sponsored social media posts frequently promote gambling activities.
The Impact of Youth Gambling
Adolescence is an age of transition, physically, psychologically, and interpersonally. We see this as they literally grow in height before our eyes, learn and become curious, and drive to attach to peers and sometimes older adolescents. What we don’t see is the actual brain development that accompanies these observable changes. The reality is that the brain is not fully developed until the mid-twenties. Until then, the interconnections with the brain are constantly evolving as the young person experiences the world. It is during this time that many of our appetites, preferences, dislikes, and drives slowly appear.
Participating in gambling at a young age can have profound effects on an adolescent’s later emotional and psychosocial well-being. If you are a parent or a therapist working with a young person, it is important to be aware of the potential consequences.
Beginning to gamble at a young age is linked to the risk of developing a gambling disorder later in life. In addition, adolescents who gamble are more likely to experience problem gambling and substance use problems.
Because the adolescent brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex (responsible for impulse control, decision-making, and long-term consequences), is still developing, young people are often more susceptible to impulsive behavior and to the hyperactive reward systems that gambling triggers. They may crave new experiences and use gambling as a coping response.
Are Youth Gambling Problems Preventable?
Yes, prevention can be effective and highly important when approached proactively. If a child has not yet engaged in gambling, primary prevention starts at home. Primary prevention aims to stop gambling before it ever begins. Parents can foster an environment where gambling misconceptions and the “gambler’s fallacy” (the belief that past events affect future random outcomes) are openly discussed and corrected. The way family and peers talk about gambling plays a significant role in shaping an adolescent’s attitude. If teens hear family members talk about gambling as something done occasionally for entertainment and not to make money, this may help shape their later relationship with gambling and how they approach it.
If a child has already participated in gambling, secondary prevention becomes essential. Secondary prevention aims to help those who already show signs of problem gambling. This involves early identification and screening. Schools can incorporate gambling education into their curricula, while parents can actively highlight the risks and monitor online activities. Most importantly, open non-judgmental conversations are the cornerstone of both primary and secondary prevention.
As an adolescent nears the legal gambling age, discussing responsible gambling principles may act as a preventative shield against future harm. Early education of harm-minimizing concepts around gambling can help them view it responsibly with realistic expectations.
How Can Parents and Caregivers Help?
We understand that recognizing a potential problem in your child can feel overwhelming. However, early support truly makes a difference. If you believe your adolescent child is engaging in underage gambling, know that you are not alone. At The Gambling Clinic, we can work with you and your child to provide education about gambling and its risks and potential harms and to help your child avoid illegal and problematic gambling.
One of the most powerful things you can do is simply be someone your child feels safe talking to. When a young person knows they won’t be judged, they are far more likely to open up.
To help your teen navigate risks related to gambling and other activities, consider the following steps:
- Initiate open conversations: Actively educate your child about the profit-driven nature of the gaming and gambling industries to promote critical thinking. You can explain how probability works, the risks associated with different types of gambling activity, and the “house advantage” that ensures gaming operators make money and that means players generally lose money over time.
- Set clear boundaries: Establish consistent limits on screen time and restrict access to financial options online. It can also be helpful to download apps that block gambling websites, and set a boundary that they do not engage in underage gambling.
- Encourage offline interests: Promote hobbies and activities that provide fulfillment and social connection outside of the digital space.
By having the ability to converse with the teens in your life (even when it looks like they are not listening), the adult creates the opportunity to help them think about new experiences or understand how excitement and caution should coexist. The comments adults make moderate how the adolescent processes the world. Think about sitting and watching a violent confrontation on TV or social media. Saying “wow, that was epic” versus “that was sad” provides a lens through which the adolescent can start processing and understanding the event they just watched.
Is Remission Possible for Youth?
Absolutely. While the path to recovery is influenced by factors such as when the gambling started, the individual’s gambling history, and any co-occurring psychological conditions, remission is possible.
Factors supporting a successful recovery include:
- Effective, evidence-based interventions tailored to adolescents.
- Strong, consistent family support and open communication.
- Comprehensive care that addresses underlying issues like anxiety, depression, or substance use.
Treatment Options and Professional Support
If a young person’s gambling behavior goes unaddressed, it can progress to more severe problem gambling. Fortunately, specialized treatment options are available.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective approaches for helping young people with gambling problems. CBT helps individuals understand how their thoughts and feelings influence their behavior, builds problem-solving skills, and provides strategies for relapse prevention. By targeting cognitive distortions, CBT empowers adolescents to develop healthier responses to external triggers.
Family therapy can also be valuable. This approach focuses on improving communication and establishing healthy boundaries within the home. Family therapy often includes psychoeducation for parents, helping them better understand behavioral addictions and equipping them with the tools to guide and support their child effectively.
Treatment at The Gambling Clinic
If you are seeking help for gambling problems for your child, members of our treatment team are trained to help treat adolescent gambling problems through evidence-based practices. You can also call the clinic for a free consultation if you have concerns or questions about gambling and gambling problems.
If you are in Tennessee, reach out to our team to begin the path to recovery. We offer in-person treatment at locations in Nashville, Memphis, and Johnson City, as well as telehealth services to assist anyone across the state. There is no cost for treatment for anyone who is a Tennessee resident. Reach out today to be connected with a therapist.
Based on Research by Dorothy Koompah
Dorothy Koompah is a Clinical Psychology doctoral candidate in the Tennessee Institute of Gambling Education & Research lab at the University of Memphis. Her research focuses on responsible gambling and the development and evaluation of preventive and educational interventions for underage gamblers and their parents, as well as emerging adults.
Additional Readings
Fong T. W. (2005). Types of psychotherapy for pathological gamblers. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa.: Township)), 2(5), 32–39. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21152147/
Higueruela-Ahijado, M., Lopez-Espuela, F., Caro-Alonso, P. A., Novo, A., & Rodriguez-Martin, B. (2023). Efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy in improving the quality of life of people with compulsive gambling, a systematic review. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 43, 127-142.
Petro, M. (2013). Evaluating, Treating and Preventing Deviant Effects of Gambling through Schools and School Curriculums. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4.
Rash C, Petry N. Psychological treatments for gambling disorder. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2014;7:285-295. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S40883
Steinberg L. (2008). A Social Neuroscience Perspective on Adolescent Risk-Taking. Developmental review: DR, 28(1), 78–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2007.08.002
Wardle, H., & Zendle, D. (2021). Loot Boxes, Gambling, and Problem Gambling Among Young People: Results from a Cross-Sectional Online Survey. Cyberpsychology, behavior and social networking, 24(4), 267–274. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2020.0299
