High Schoolers GAMBLING AWAY Their Money!
High schoolers are hemorrhaging thousands of dollars while Big Tech and gambling platforms look the other way—our children are being turned into addicts right under our noses.
At a Glance
- Online poker and sports betting have become increasingly popular among high school students, with weak age verification allowing easy access
- Students are gambling irresponsibly with some owing significant amounts of money, as highlighted in a scholarly essay by high school junior Isaac Carrillo
- Adolescents are neurologically predisposed to addiction, making early exposure particularly dangerous
- Research shows children introduced to betting by age 12 are four times more likely to develop gambling problems later
- Online betting has surged since the 2018 Supreme Court ruling, with 94% of wagers now placed online
The Teenage Gambling Epidemic Nobody’s Talking About
While we’re busy worrying about our kids being exposed to inappropriate content on TikTok, they’re busy bankrupting themselves on poker apps. According to a compelling scholarly essay by high school junior Isaac Carrillo, online poker has become a widespread trend among high school students across America. These aren’t just friendly games—we’re talking about real money and real consequences. Students are forming poker leagues, setting up numerous tables with varying rules and expertise levels, and gambling away money they don’t have. And where are the adults? Nowhere to be found, apparently.
The reason this digital gambling epidemic flies under the radar is because online casinos have made poker sites ridiculously accessible to young people through pathetically weak age verification systems. Many of these platforms only require users to check a box confirming they’re over 18 or 21—a digital honor system that any teenager with half a brain can easily bypass. It’s as if we’re putting a child-proof cap on whiskey bottles but leaving the cabinet unlocked and posting a sign that says “Please don’t drink this if you’re underage.” Pure genius.
The Neurological Trap
What makes this situation particularly alarming is that teenagers are literally wired for addiction. Their developing brains make them significantly more susceptible to addictive behaviors than adults. It’s not just about poor judgment or lack of self-control—it’s biology. And the gambling industry knows this, just like cigarette companies once marketed to teens with cartoon camels. They’re creating the next generation of loyal customers by hooking them early, consequences be damned.
“Children introduced to ‘harmless betting’ by the age of 12 are four times more likely to engage in problem gambling later.” – The Office of Problem Gambling Services (OPGS).
This isn’t just some theoretical concern. We’re already seeing the devastating results. Some high school students are reportedly racking up significant debts—money they have no means to repay. Parents across America are discovering their children have blown through college savings, maxed out credit cards, or taken loans from questionable sources to fund their gambling habits. And the kicker? Most parents don’t find out until the damage is done because these transactions are easily hidden on digital platforms.
The Government’s Role in Enabling the Crisis
Thank you, Supreme Court, for your 2018 decision in Murphy v. NCAA that opened the floodgates to legalized sports betting across America. Since that brilliant ruling, the number of states with operational sportsbooks has skyrocketed from just one in 2017 to a whopping 38 in 2024. And guess what? Researchers at UC San Diego have found a 23% increase in searches for gambling addiction help nationwide since that landmark decision. Who could have possibly seen that coming? Oh right, anyone with common sense.
“When the Supreme Court legalized sportsbooks — a venue where people can wager on various sports competitions — in Murphy v. NCAA, public health experts paid little attention” – John W. Ayers, Ph.D.
What’s particularly troubling is that 94% of all wagers in 2023 were placed online—not in brick-and-mortar establishments where at least there’s some pretense of age verification. Online platforms offer the perfect storm: 24/7 access, minimal oversight, and algorithms designed to keep players engaged (and spending) for as long as possible. And even though gambling addiction is officially recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, our healthcare and public health systems have no formal surveillance in place. It’s almost as if the tax revenue from gambling is more important than protecting vulnerable young people.
Common Sense Solutions
The solutions aren’t rocket science. First, we need strict, federally mandated age verification systems for all gambling platforms—not the joke of a system we have now. Second, gambling advertisements should be banned from platforms and media with significant youth audiences. Third, technology companies need to be held legally accountable when minors use their platforms to gamble. And finally, schools need mandatory financial literacy programs that explicitly address the mathematics and risks of gambling. Will any of this happen? Not as long as politicians on both sides of the aisle are happily cashing checks from gambling lobbyists.
Gambling addiction is becoming as significant a threat to our youth as alcohol and nicotine addiction—yet it receives a fraction of the attention. While the New York Post Scholars Contest rightfully highlighted Isaac Carrillo’s important work on this issue, most media outlets are too busy selling ad space to FanDuel and DraftKings to offer meaningful coverage. The truth is, we’re conducting a massive social experiment on our children, allowing the gambling industry to target them with sophisticated digital tools designed to foster addiction. If we don’t wake up soon, we’ll be dealing with the consequences for generations.
