Hey guys! Let’s talk about something you might not think about every day—gambling and how it affects kids and teens like us. In Maryland, you have to be 21 to bet on sports and 18 to play the lottery. But here’s the thing: a lot of young people don’t even realize they’re gambling sometimes!
Back in 2022, some researchers, including a guy named Mohamed Kakay from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), talked to teens in Maryland high schools. They held a focus group—a small meeting where people chat about a topic—with 15 kids in Western Maryland. At first, all the kids were like, “Nah, I don’t gamble.” But then, the researchers asked if anyone had ever gotten a scratch-off lottery ticket as a gift. Guess what? Almost every hand went up! It made them wonder: do kids even know what gambling is?
That year, Mohamed and his team did 30 focus groups all over Maryland, and 7 of them were with kids and young adults ages 12 to 25. At first, the teens thought it was funny that adults were asking about gambling. They said no one—not their doctor, teacher, or even parents—had ever warned them about it. But as the questions kept coming, they started to get it. Light bulbs were going off in their heads about why gambling could be a big deal.
The teens shared some stories. Some knew friends who secretly used their parents’ credit cards to buy stuff like loot boxes in video games—those mystery boxes you pay for but don’t know what’s inside. Others talked about people betting on dice games and losing cash. A few even knew older people who lost houses or had family fights because they couldn’t stop gambling. By the end of the talks, the kids got serious. They realized gambling isn’t just fun and games—it can mess you up.
They also said it’s super easy to get lottery tickets because stores don’t always check IDs. Plus, parents sometimes give kids tickets or play with them, so it feels normal. The teens said it seems like everyone gambles these days. Even before phone betting was legal in Maryland, they could find gambling apps or sites online. Crazy, right?
So, what’s the problem with gambling young? It can lead to money troubles, stress, addiction, bad grades, and family drama. The kids said they see ads for gambling everywhere, especially online, and that’s what gets them curious. Research backs this up: the younger you start gambling, the more likely you’ll have problems with it later (NCPG, 2022). That’s because our brains aren’t fully grown until we’re 25, so we’re more likely to get hooked on stuff like gambling or even drugs (Arain, 2013).
Some things make gambling riskier for teens, like if your parents gamble a lot, if you start young, or if you’re super impulsive. It’s also tougher if you already deal with stuff like stress or mental health issues. Gambling can feel like an escape, but it just makes things worse. And then there are video games! Some have loot boxes that are basically gambling—you pay for a surprise, like a virtual slot machine.
Lots of kids and parents don’t even know that’s a thing. Games rated “M” for Mature or “A” for Adult might have this stuff, and they’re supposed to have a warning label like, “Hey, this has random purchases!” (ESRB, 2023).
Sports betting is huge now too. It’s legal in 38 states, including Maryland, and you can bet on your phone during games, which makes it exciting—and easy to lose a lot of money. The minimum age is 21, but some kids get around it by using a parent’s account or shady websites. Sneaky, huh?
So, what can we do? It starts with talking about it. Parents, teachers, or anyone who hangs out with kids can explain why gambling young is risky. Schools could add it to health class, like they do with drugs or mental health. We need more research too, because gambling’s getting bigger every year. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, so it’s a perfect time to chat with your family or friends about it.
What do you think? Have you seen gambling ads or tried a loot box? Let’s talk about it in the comments!
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SOURCES:
Adolescent Gambling, Psychiatry, 2006 Oct https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2945873/ American Gaming Association https://www.americangaming.org/
Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) https://www.esrb.org/
Maturation of the Adolescent Brain, 2013, Arain, M. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621648/#:~:text=The%20development%20and%20maturation%20of%20th e%20prefrontal%20cortex%20occurs%20primarily,helps%20accomplish%20executive%20brain%20functions
National Council on Problem Gambling, Gift Responsibly Campaign https://www.ncpgambling.org/programs-resources/gift-responsibly-campaign/
ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
The initial article was culled from the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), and the Maryland Alliance for Responsible Gaming.