Youth, Teens, Gambling & Online Betting 

Caveat – Last year, we published an article for parents and caregivers titled “Yes, Some Youth Are Gambling In The Onlife World: What Parents & Caregivers Need To Know.” (1) This follow-up article was prompted by a message we received earlier this week from a concerned parent who had discovered that her 17-year-old son had been using their cellphone to place online bets on this year’s NCAA March Madness basketball tournament.

In today’s onlife world where smartphones and laptops are extensions of our hands, and apps can be downloaded in seconds, it’s easier than ever for youth and teens to be entertained at the tap of a screen. But not all entertainment is as harmless as it seems. For many parents and caregivers, online gambling may sound like an adult-only issue, but the lines between play and gambling have become dangerously blurred especially when it comes to youth and teens.

Online gambling has become incredibly accessible and, alarmingly, all too familiar to many youth and teens. They no longer need to step foot in a casino, it’s now just a few taps away on their devices, with age verification often easily bypassed.

Many gambling apps mimic the exact same reward systems kids already see in everyday mobile games. Think, slot machine-style bonus rounds, spinning wheels, loot boxes and “surprise” chests (2)

Although these types of games may not use real money, they do replicate the psychological experience of gambling. Kids play to win rewards, unlock special items, or achieve higher status, often in games marketed as harmless fun.

The risk? This gameplay trains the brain using the same psychological loop as actual gambling, a system called variable ratio reinforcement, which gives rewards unpredictably. (3)  It’s the same reason people pull slot machine levers over and over again, and it works. 

What starts as free play can escalate quickly. Many of these games are now linked directly to real payment methods like PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and saved credit cards. (4)(5) The shift from “pretend” to real money is often subtle, where players are nudged to buy in-game currency, speed up wait times, or unlock exclusive perks. In some cases, children and teens unknowingly rack up hundreds or even thousands of dollars in charges , all with just a few taps. (6)

Today’s teens are more financially enabled than ever. Recent data shows that 42% of U.S. teens use TikTok Shop, 39% use credit or debit cards, and 33% use mobile payment apps like Cash App or Apple Pay. (7)

With so much financial autonomy and a constant stream of in-game spending prompts, it’s easy for teens to slide into real-money gambling on sites and apps such as prizepicks.com, Bubblecash, Big Bass Bonanza, often without fully understanding what they’re doing.

The rise of online sports betting has also added another dangerous layer. What was once reserved for casinos or private bets is now part of mainstream entertainment, and it’s growing fast. In 2023 alone, online sports gambling became a $9.5 billion industry (8), with $3.1 billion wagered online during the 2025 March Madness NCAA basketball tournament.(9)

For teens who follow sports, gambling is everywhere. Major sporting events are now flooded with sponsorships and advertisements from betting companies like DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, PointsBet, and BetRivers. These companies don’t just advertise on TV, they infiltrate social media. Teens who follow athletes or teams may be exposed to targeted ads for betting apps or even start following gambling brands directly, leading to more exposure and direct engagement. Over time, this creates a normalized association between sports and gambling, especially in a culture that prizes risk, excitement, and competition.

While it’s hard to track exact numbers, the signs are alarming:

• A 2024 meta-analysis in The Lancet Public Health found that 1 in 6 adolescents globally had gambled in the past year, and in North America, that number jumps to 1 in 3. (10) which is also the case in Australia (11)

• According to the International Centre for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviours, 60% to 80% of high schoolers say they’ve gambled for money in the past year, and up to 6% show signs of gambling addiction.

Some teens are even learning how to manipulate the system. Through a practice called “gnoming,” individuals create multiple accounts with the same platform using different devices or IP addresses to get around bet limits or impersonate someone else. (12) It’s deceptive, but not technically illegal, making it a dangerous loophole for teens already struggling with impulse control or addiction.

Youth and teen brains are still developing, particularly in areas responsible for impulse control, risk assessment, and understanding long-term consequences. Simulated gambling games prey on these vulnerabilities by rewarding risky behaviour, making spending feel like progress, and encouraging repetitive play.

The result? Gambling begins to feel normal, and even fun, a far cry from the reality of financial loss, emotional distress, and potential gambling addiction.

For our Canadian readers, The legal age for online gambling in Canada varies by province and territory, reflecting the decentralized nature of gambling regulation in the country. While the federal government permits gambling, each province and territory sets its own rules regarding the legal age for participation.Here’s a breakdown of the minimum legal gambling age across Canada both online and offline are: 

In the United States, the legal age for online gambling varies by state and the type of gambling activity. Generally, the minimum age is either 18 or 21. Legal Online Gambling Age by State and Activity

NOTE – many of the age gating restrictions that are placed on these gambling and betting sites, are often easy bypassed by youth and teens.

As the onlife world continues to evolve, so too do the risks our youth and teens face within it, online gambling is one of those risk that parent and caregivers need to be alive to. What was once an adult-only vice confined to casinos is now accessible to minors with just a few taps on a smartphone or clicks on a laptop. The line between entertainment and exploitation is growing thinner, with gambling mechanics being seamlessly woven into games, apps, and sports culture in ways that are designed to appeal to young minds.

This isn’t just about money, it’s about the manipulation of psychology. From the thrill of unpredictability to the instant gratification of in-game rewards, young users are being exposed to the same reinforcement loops that keep adult gamblers hooked. But unlike adults, youth and teens are especially vulnerable due to their still-developing brains, limited impulse control, and a lack of understanding of long-term consequences.

Parents and caregivers must move beyond simply monitoring “screen time” and begin asking what their kids are actually doing with that time. Are they playing a harmless game, or are they unknowingly being conditioned for a gambling mindset? Are they watching a basketball game for the sport, or are they being bombarded with messages that normalize betting as part of the experience?

The reality is, age verification systems are often weak, payment options are frictionless, and the marketing is aggressive. The result is a growing number of youth who are not just dabbling in online gambling but may already be showing signs of problematic behaviour, some even finding ways to game the system in return.

We need to treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves. Education, open dialogue, and proactive digital parenting are essential tools in helping youth recognize the risks and resist the pull of online gambling. Governments, educators, tech platforms, and betting companies must also be held accountable for creating and enforcing stronger protections.

We don’t let our kids walk into casinos for a reason. But in today’s onlife world, the casino is already in their pocket; colourful, gamified, and only a swipe away. It’s time we started treating that with the same level of concern.

Digital Food For Thought

The White Hatter

Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech

References:

1/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/yes-some-youth-are-gambling-in-the-onlife-world/

2/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/online-gaming/ 

3/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306460324002843 

4/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/cash-apps-and-prepaid-cards-for-youth-teens-what-parents-need-to-know/

5/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/recommended-payment-methods-for-safer-online-shopping-experiences-a-parents-guide-to-reducing-the-risks/ 

6/ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/unregulated-online-gambling-attracting-children-harm-prevention-agency-says/CTSRDWQDOVCEPPC56KVBDORTHU/ 

7/ https://www.ama.org/2025/03/27/5-key-insights-into-gen-z-shopping-habits-and-what-they-mean-for-gen-alpha/ 

8/ https://www.statista.com/forecasts/1318601/online-gambling-market-size-us

9/ https://www.americangaming.org/americans-to-legally-wager-estimated-3-1-billion-on-march-madness/ 

10/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468266724001671#:~:text=We%20estimate%20that%2046%C2%B72,among%20adolescents%20should%20be%20prohibited 

11/ https://www.odt.co.nz/news/australia/alarming-one-three-australian-children-gambling 

12/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468266724001671#:~:text=We%20estimate%20that%2046%C2%B72,among%20adolescents%20should%20be%20prohibited