Teen Gambling Addiction Surges as Boys Get Hooked on Sports Betting Apps
More teenagers are getting addicted to online gambling and sports betting, with most of them being boys. Parents often don't know about their children's gambling problems until years later. One man started betting at age 11 and was gambling 15 hours a day by college.
A growing number of teenagers are developing gambling addictions through online sports betting apps and websites. The problem mostly affects teenage boys, and parents often have no idea how serious the addiction has become.
Saul Malek's story shows how bad it can get. He started betting at age 11 and was gambling 15 hours a day by the time he reached college. Now he speaks to students and parents about how his gambling habit wrecked his life.
Experts say the explosion of online gambling and heavy advertising is drawing in young people. While not all kids who try gambling will develop problems, some are already showing warning signs that worry researchers.
The rise of betting apps makes gambling easier than ever for teens to access from their phones. Parents interviewed for news reports said they had no clue about their children's gambling problems, sometimes for years.
One expert noted that for a small group of boys, things can quickly spiral out of control with the way some kids are engaging in gambling behaviors already flashing red warning signs.
Your teenager could develop a gambling addiction without you knowing it. Online betting apps make it easy for kids to gamble from their phones, and the habit can destroy their finances and mental health before parents catch on.
More schools may add gambling addiction education programs. Parents should watch for signs of secretive phone use and unexplained money issues.
Was this article helpful?
0 people found this helpful