Six Tips for Starting the Conversation About Gambling with Young People
Published: February 10, 2025
Today, Harry Levant is a gambling counselor who helps his clients navigate gambling disorders. But a decade ago, Levant was experiencing a gambling disorder of his own that almost took his life. After stealing $1.9 million from his law practice and losing it on bets, he found himself in a hotel room contemplating suicide. “Gambling addiction took my brain, my heart, my soul, my conscience,” Levant told the Washington Post.
While Levant called a helpline and got the help he needed, it may concern you to know that Levant was just 15 years old when he made his first bet.
Since sports betting was legalized in 2018, stories like Levant’s are all too common. A 2022 study found that 60 to 80 percent of high schoolers had reported betting for money in the past year.
According to Timothy Fong of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program, betting at a young age can have lasting consequences. “Young people are significantly at higher risk of developing gambling disorder than adults, in part because their brains are not fully developed,” Fong told ABC News. “Their ability to evaluate risk, their ability to handle loss, isn’t as secure as an adult.”
As sports betting and other forms of gambling continue to grow in popularity, it’s more important than ever for parents, teachers, and other caregivers to talk to youth about betting. The following talking points can help you check-in with your child and stop youth gambling before it starts.
- Explain the risks: Talk to youth about the risks of betting just as you would other dangers such as substance use.
- Teach youth sound spending practices: Any game based on chance is betting. Remind your child that in the long run, most people lose more money than they win.
- Avoid betting-related activities: Don’t include any type of betting at family events. Even seemingly harmless activities like scratch-offs or March Madness pools for money can send the wrong message and spark an early interest in betting.
- Teach youth to care for others: Encourage them to speak up if they have a friend or classmate who is experiencing the harms of betting.
- Encourage an open dialogue: Create a safe space for youth to share their experiences with betting, and listen with an understanding and non-judgmental attitude when they do.
- Be a good example: If you choose to bet, model healthy habits.
If you’re interested in more resources, Change the Game Ohio offers several tools to help you learn about youth gambling and start the conversation with your child. This includes a discussion guide for parents, a classroom handout for educators, and a quiz to gauge if your child is at risk.
And if you think a child in your life might be affected by gambling, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER right away. Qualified local specialists are standing by to offer free, non-judgmental, and confidential support 24/7.