*The names in the story have been changed to protect identities.
Surrounded by friends, sophomore Jerald Williams* tapped his phone and placed a $5 bet on the Chiefs on his friend’s phone. He was not using his own account, but one shared through a friend, using information tied to his friend’s parents. In a matter of seconds, the wager went through.
Sports betting became legal in Kansas in 2022 under Senate Bill 84. The legal age to place a bet, whether online or in person, is 21. But according to Common Sense Media, a nonprofit focused on kids and technology, 36% of boys aged 11-17 have reported gambling in the past year.
One reason sports betting has grown so much is that for many teenagers, online sports betting doesn’t require much effort:
Download an app.
Create an account.
Use false age information.
Place a bet.
In just four steps, teenagers can start engaging in unauthorized betting.
The rise of mobile betting apps has made gambling faster, easier and as appealing as ever. According to the American Gambling Association, more than 80% of sports bets in the United States are now placed through mobile devices rather than in person at casinos or sportsbooks. When you Google sports betting, hundreds of apps come up: FanDuel Sportsbook, SportsBetting.ag, DraftKings, all fighting for one thing: attention.
Betting companies spend millions advertising on social media, during sports games, or even as suggested apps. Some of the largest sportsbooks spend tens or even hundreds of millions on advertising alone. In 2024, FanDual spent about $157.7 million on television advertising, while DraftKings spent nearly $123 million, according to industry advertising data.
Betting apps are heavily promoted, and men ages 18-34 are among the largest groups participating in sports betting, and the industry often markets directly to that demographic, promising rewards, competition and entertainment, according to the New York Council on Problem Gambling.
Senior Jason Smith* started online sports betting after seeing an excess of online ads.
“Whenever you’re watching sports, really, they just push that on you,” Smith said.
According to Common Sense Media, 45% of teenage boys who gamble report that online gambling has been pushed on them through targeted ads.
But the influence does not end online. It also moves through friend groups, where sports betting becomes part of everyday conversation.
“I can hear them talking about, ‘Dude, I won 250 on this.’ or ‘Oh my gosh, I lost 300 on this. I have to try and get it back.’ history teacher Todd Boren said.
Even though the legal age for gambling is 21, some teens mistakenly believe it is 18. This misconception may stem from the fact that other forms of gambling, such as buying lottery tickets or playing fantasy sports, are legal at younger ages.
Many teenagers admit that gambling can be addictive, but they believe it will stop before it goes too far. However, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling, about five million Americans meet the criteria for compulsive gambling. Gambling releases dopamine in the brain, the same chemical associated with alcohol or drug use, which reinforces the behavior.
When senior Ethan Miller* placed his first bet six months ago, it wasn’t at a casino. It was with friends. He mostly bets on major events like the Daytona 500 or the Super Bowl, where friends pool their money together while watching the game.
“You get an adrenaline rush,” Miller said. “When you win good money, it just feels so good.”
He typically puts down $20 or $40, which he makes from his job. The most Miller has ever won is $200, and the most he’s lost is $125.
Psychology and sociology teacher Brooke Moore explains that gambling operates on a win-or-lose system: losing money compels people to chase losses, perpetuating the cycle.
“When they win, it feels so good, and you just want to win again,” Moore said. “And that’s what makes it problematic.”
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, teenagers are more likely to take risks because their prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control, is still developing, making it harder for teenagers to consider long-term consequences fully. This makes it harder for teens to consider long-term consequences fully. At the same time, their brain’s reward system matures earlier, making them more susceptible to addictive behaviors.
The effects of gambling disorder go far beyond lost money. The Child Mind Institute states that gambling disorder carries the highest suicide risk of any substance use or addictive disorder. According to the National Library of Medicine, more than two-thirds of adult gamblers have reported that exposure to gambling during adolescence was a key contributing factor to their current gambling addiction.
Underage sports betting can lead to blocked payouts, suspended accounts and, in some cases, far more serious legal trouble if teenagers use someone else’s identity or account to place bets. But sports betting can be difficult to catch since it often happens quietly and through phones, and through accounts not directly tied to the student placing the wager.
The reality of underage sports betting is not just that it is happening, but that it is becoming so ordinary. With money moving through phones, borrowed accounts and bets placed out of sight, what should be restricted is becoming a part of teens’ everyday life. And once that line is crossed, consequences can follow.
