Ohio Parents are Betting on Children’s Sports, and it’s “Getting Ugly”
Published: June 30, 2025
Youth sports should be about fun, teamwork, and building healthy habits in young people. But in Cincinnati, sports betting has been finding its way into youth leagues and bringing real danger along with it. Last fall, a shooting over bets placed on an 11- and 12-year-old league football game left two adults injured.
“You can’t have youth football games with three or four or five thousand dollar bets taking place. People are dying for a lot less money. It’s difficult to talk about, but that’s the reality of what’s happening in some of our youth leagues,” former police officer and Cincinnati city councilman Scotty Johnson told local station FOX19.
Cincinnati officials are now urging the community to keep sports betting out of youth sports, as they should never be a place for high-stakes betting. Not only does this put the adults at risk of a gambling disorder, but it also exposes children to unnecessary violence and trauma.
Here are the facts:
- During March Madness in 2024, 54,000 posts were flagged as potential threats during the tournament.
- Rates of student athlete mental exhaustion, anxiety, and depression are 150 percent higher than they were in 2019.
- In a recent survey, 41 percent of college student bettors wager on their school’s sports teams.
- Over a half-million student athletes have been educated by the NCAA on how to handle the harms of sports betting harassment.
These numbers reflect a growing issue. Now, on top of school work and social pressure, college students are facing extreme amounts of stress from bettors whose money rides on their success or failure. To address this, Ohio launched More Than A Bet, a campaign that raises awareness about the dangers of sports betting-related harassment and provides support for those who might be struggling to control their emotions over a bet.
Watch this PSA video to learn more:
Interested in more responsible gambling resources? Individuals can take the quiz from More Than A Bet to gauge their risk level for a gambling disorder and download the toolkit to educate themselves and others on the dangers of sports betting harassment. And if you or someone you care about needs help, don’t hesitate to call the free and confidential Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline, where trained and understanding specialists are available 24/7 to take your call, with no strings or commitments attached. Call 1-800-589-9966 or text 4HOPE to 741741 today.