A man looks at a sports betting app on his phone.
Getty Images
Gambling used to require a bookie’s phone number or a trip to a casino or racetrack. Today, it needs nothing more than a smartphone.
This shift in access has caused gambling to slowly bleed into everyday life, into the games people play, the sports they watch and the investment apps they’re told to embrace.
Though most sports betting and gambling apps have minimum age restrictions of 18 to 21, teens can still engage in gambling-like behaviors. Take, for instance, purchasing mystery boxes in video games.
Article continues below this ad
This accessibility makes gambling a point of concern among young adults, experts say.
A 2026 national survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the National Council on Problem Gambling found nearly two-thirds of adults 21 and older have gambled in some form before turning 21, and that younger adults report gambling at nearly three times the rate of older generations.
The scale of this problem is drawing national attention, with the state of New York recently suing Kalshi, a prediction-market app, alleging it operates as an “illegal, unlicensed gambling operation” that can be accessed by underage users.
Yet, social stigma and a lack of awareness surrounding gambling addictions make them difficult to identify among young people. Here are some early warning signs for parents.
What is a gambling addiction?
A gambling disorder is a recognized medical condition marked by ongoing, uncontrollable gambling habits that impair life, whether through financial stress, placing strain on relationships or harming a person’s health, said Linda Uphoff, a licensed professional counselor from Dallas who specializes in families affected by youth and young adult gambling.
Article continues below this ad
Similar to people with alcohol and substance abuse disorders, those with gambling disorders experience tolerance, withdrawal and an inability to stop despite wanting to, said Dr. Sidarth Wakhlu, a professor of psychiatry at UT Southwestern Medical Center who specializes in treating substance-abuse disorders and behavioral addictions, such as gambling.
The only unique feature of gambling is that you chase your losses, Wakhlu said. “You go back and think, ‘Oh, I’ll try to make more. I’ve lost $30,000, so I’m going to go back and try to make it back, or make more than $30,000.’ ”
A casino in your pocket
“In the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, if you wanted to gamble, you had to get in your car and drive,” Uphoff said. “Now that has changed. You can sit in the comfort of your bedroom and gamble.”
You can’t see a sports game anymore without seeing ads for gambling apps, Wakhlu said. “And for the younger generation, who have been brought up in this culture where they live in their phones and these apps, it’s just a kind of a natural progression to gamble,” he said.
Article continues below this ad
Today, anyone can bet on sports events with their smartphone, and spend real money on video games and apps for the chance to unlock rewards.
“Their phones are like online casinos, and there’s no regulation,” Uphoff said. “Our kids can be gambling next to us while we’re watching TV, and we don’t know it.”
How to recognize the early warning signs
One of the biggest obstacles to recognizing gambling addiction among teens is the lack of awareness surrounding it.
It’s normal to warn your child about drugs and alcohol, Uphoff said, but we rarely warn about gambling to the same extent.
Article continues below this ad
“We have to start young. We have to talk to our middle-schoolers about it, to our kids before they leave for college. College is a real risk period, where everybody’s sports betting and gambling, and we just have to be aware.”
Some of the early warning signs of a gambling addiction include a preoccupation with gambling, increased time and money spent gambling, changes in behavior and mood, a decline in school or work performance, and chasing losses or increased risk taking.
Some groups of people are more susceptible than others, Wakhlu said. “A lot of people in the 19-to-26 age group gamble, but there’s a subset that has some genetic predisposition or childhood trauma or adversity that puts them at a higher risk.”
A family history of anxiety, depression, drug use disorders or alcoholism or other addictions can increase the likelihood someone develops a gambling disorder, he said. Early exposure to gambling and peer pressure can also place people at a greater risk.
How to overcome a gambling addiction
After struggling to find resources when trying to help her child, Uphoff co-founded a nonprofit, Parents Standing Together, to help educate parents on how to help children with gambling addictions.
Article continues below this ad
Parents may want to give their kids money if they’re having financial problems, Uphoff said. Doing this, however, prevents them from learning accountability and facing the reality of their choices, only strengthening the addiction.
The best thing a parent can do is set firm boundaries and offer support and guidance in recovery, according to Parents Standing Together.
Gambling addictions are nuanced, said Uphoff, so seeking help from a licensed professional can be an effective intervention.
Even if someone can reduce their gambling behavior, they may not be able to completely stop it right away, Wakhlu said. “Recovery is a long-term process. You didn’t develop the addiction overnight. Recovery won’t happen overnight,” he said.
Article continues below this ad
“People can keep trying. Even if they slip and fall, keep trying until they succeed,” Wakhlu said. “Reduction is a good goal and is a victory.”
Niamh Ordner is a science reporting fellow at The Dallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the University of Texas at Dallas. The News makes all editorial decisions.