Teaching Kids and Teens About Sports Betting and Gambling Addictions

By Kathleen Palmer and Sue Heilmayer, Alpaugh Family Economics Center at UC

When a San Francisco teacher named Kim Freudenberg sat down to think about the warnings she’d given her sons over the years, she could tick off a long list: drugs, alcohol, social media. “Never once did I even think that I needed to say ‘gambling,'” she told NPR.

Her 11-year-old son had been watching a video game livestream online, clicked a link in the comments, and landed on an offshore casino. He got hooked on blackjack, poker, and roulette — using in-game items as currency. His mom never saw it coming.

She’s not alone — and neither is her son.

A Teachable Moment in the Headlines

You may have seen the recent news about Brendan Sorsby, a Texas Tech quarterback and one of the most recruited players in the country this past offseason. He has entered a residential treatment facility — not for drugs or alcohol, but for a gambling addiction.

Sources report that Sorsby made thousands of online bets through a gambling app, starting when he was a college freshman. He was reportedly months away from a multimillion-dollar season. All of it now in jeopardy.

Gambling addiction doesn’t discriminate. It can quietly take hold of a smart, talented young person before anyone around them even notices. And Sorsby’s story is far from an isolated case.

The Data Is Striking

According to a January 2025 report by Common Sense Media:

  • 36% of teenage boys ages 11–17 say they gambled at some point in the past year
  • 49% of those ages 17–19 report gambling in the past year

Remember — minors are not legally allowed to participate in sports betting or casino gambling. Most platforms require users to be at least 21. But kids are finding ways in, often through offshore sites, apps, and links that surface in the online spaces where teens already spend their time.

And the consequences can be severe. About 10% of kids who gamble become addicted. Gambling addiction carries the highest rate of suicide of any addiction — and tragically, young people have taken their own lives in the face of overwhelming gambling debts and the fear of telling their parents what happened.

What to Watch For

The tricky part is that the warning signs are often subtle. Many kids struggling with gambling are still showing up to school, keeping up with activities, and appearing fine on the surface. But parents should watch for:

  • Unexplained changes around money — asking for more, or suddenly having more than expected
  • Secrecy around phones or devices, or withdrawal from friends and family
  • Unusual preoccupation with sports scores, odds, or outcomes
  • Talk that focuses on wins, never losses — teachers report students often brag about their latest “big win” while never mentioning what they’ve lost

Schools Are Stepping Up

Educators are increasingly on the front lines of this issue. Some teachers are using lesson plans from organizations like the Federal Reserve — even bringing roulette wheels into classrooms to give students a firsthand feel for how odds actually work in practice.

In May 2025, Massachusetts launched the nation’s first youth gambling-harm prevention curriculum specifically focused on sports betting — a five-session program designed to challenge gambling myths and build financial and media literacy skills.

The goal isn’t to scare kids. It’s to make them skeptical. When young people understand the house edge and the reality of long-term odds, they’re equipped to think critically rather than emotionally about risk. That’s exactly the kind of financial reasoning we work to build at SmartPath Forward.

The One Thing You Can Do Today

Have the conversation. Don’t wait for a crisis.

Kids are already seeing gambling ads and content online and on social media constantly. Not talking about it honestly is the real risk. You don’t need to have all the answers — start simple. Ask your kids what they know about sports betting. Ask whether their friends talk about it. Open the door.

And if you’re concerned a child is already struggling, help is available:

Financial literacy means more than budgeting and saving. It means understanding risk, recognizing manipulation, and making decisions based on evidence — not hope. Sports gambling is a financial literacy issue, and it belongs in the conversation we’re already having with young people.

Let’s make sure they’re ready.

Sue Heilmayer is Executive Director of the Alpaugh Family Economics Center at the University of Cincinnati. This post originally appeared as part of a live interview segment on WKRC Local 12.

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