How to Prevent Youth Gambling at School
Published: August 4, 2025
Back-to-school season is an exciting time. As the school year starts up, young people, parents, and educators are getting a jump start on the months to come, including the latest trends in issues affecting youth. One such issue is rising in importance this year: youth gambling.
Children and youth of all ages are increasingly being exposed to gambling and mechanics that resemble gambling, with potential consequences later in life. Youth who gamble are more likely to experience a wide variety of disorders, including substance use disorder and gambling disorder as adults. So, educating yourself on how to prevent youth gambling is more than a smart way to get back into the school-time groove — it’s about protecting youth’s future.
For Educators
Even with certain schools banning or limiting cell phone usage during school hours, gambling is present in many of the video games and entertainment that students engage with outside of school, which can result in exposure to gambling during school hours from peers. Here’s what teachers need to know:
- Know the Terminology: With a great deal of initial exposure happening through video games, gambling terminology changes with each new game on the scene. So, educators will need to stay up to date on the terms youth use. Common in-game mechanics like loot and mystery boxes, in-platform chats for streaming services, and social casino apps all use their own terms.
- Be Ready to Talk About It: Many youth will already know more than you might think about gambling. But while they might talk about it, their knowledge of the implications of youth gambling are often incomplete. Be ready to educate youth about the long-term risks youth gambling poses for them, and how random chance is different from certainty.
- Don’t Use Gambling Mechanics in Lessons: While it might be tempting to try to connect with youth by creating sports brackets or engaging them with random-chance games, the risks to their future are very real. To help prevent youth gambling, refrain from using any random-chance or betting games in the classroom.
For Parents
When young people are exposed to gambling, it can potentially stay with them for life, resulting in a gambling disorder when they’re an adult. Because of this risk, keeping yourself in the know about the risks that youth gambling poses to your children is important.
- Monitor Their Games: Know which games your children play and what, if any, gambling mechanics are present in them. When you know what they’re playing, you can better educate youth about the risks and protect them from engaging.
- Know the Definition: Gambling refers to any game in which something of value is exchanged and the game is decided by random chance. While it might seem basic, knowing that definition can help you identify when a game is dangerous and prevent youth from engaging with gambling. Additionally, our quiz can help you determine if a youth you know may be at risk.
- Be Ready to Listen: Old-fashioned peer pressure is still a powerful force. No young person wants to feel that they’re missing out on fun that their friends are partaking in, which can range from playing video games together to making dares and bets during school hours. Keeping communication with your child open can help them feel less alone, which helps prevent youth gambling.
Want to learn more about the effort to help prevent youth gambling? Follow us at @Pausebeforeyouplay_oh on Instagram, @PBYP_OH on X, and Pause Before You Play on Facebook.
And if you or someone you know might be experiencing a gambling disorder, don’t hesitate to call the free and confidential Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or text 4HOPE to 741741. Trained and understanding specialists are ready to take your call 24/7. And now, the Ohio Gambling Telehealth Network offers virtual telehealth services at no cost.