Turn on cookies to sign in
Signing in saves your progress to your Curie account. We can only do that with cookies on — turn them on to continue.
Over half of young Americans gambled in the past year, including 42.7% of teens aged 13–17, according to a new Rutgers University national survey. Problem gambling risk is highest among frequent gamblers, Black and Hispanic youth, and those from low-income households. Researchers are calling for school-based prevention, routine clinical screenings, and stronger federal oversight of emerging platforms like crypto and prediction markets.
A new national survey of 1,677 young Americans aged 13–27 found that 52.5% had gambled in the past year — including 42.7% of teens aged 13–17. The Rutgers University Center for Gambling Studies study, the first of its kind since 2007, highlights a landscape that has expanded well beyond casinos and scratch tickets to include cryptocurrency trading, high-risk stock trading, and prediction markets.
The data reveal stark disparities: Black (63.9%) and Hispanic (56.5%) youth gambled at higher rates than white peers (49.6%), and high-risk problem gambling was concentrated among frequent gamblers, low-income households, and those exposed to gambling at home. Nearly three-quarters of high-risk gamblers reported mental health symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Gambling is no longer just an adult concern. With new digital platforms lowering the barrier to entry, clinicians, schools, and parents need updated tools to identify and address problem gambling in young people before it becomes a lifelong issue.
