There’s Gambling at Your Child’s School. Now What?
Published: September 22, 2025
Every parent has been there: you know your teenager is being exposed to something that could hurt them, like gambling. You might know that gambling and games that simulate gambling are getting more and more popular among youth and teenagers. Maybe you’ve seen your child interact with loot boxes, seen them watch a sports betting ad, or heard them talk about gambling with friends. But what can you do? How can you protect them?
Here’s the first thing to know: you aren’t powerless. To many parents, it can seem like their teens will be exposed to gambling no matter what, even with screen time and content controls. But that’s not quite true. While you can’t entirely control what a youth sees and hears, you do have the power to shape their actions to ensure they go out into the world equipped to make positive choices of their own.
Most parents are familiar with the example they are setting for their children. But in addition to being a good role model for your own kids, you also have a role to play in making sure your child is a positive role model for other youth. Peer pressure is powerful, especially among teenagers, which means that promoting positive behaviors with your child can also help prevent youth gambling among their friends and classmates. Here’s some tips to get started:
- Have the Conversation: Talk with your child about the boundaries you’ve set, the basic facts of gambling, the potential impacts later in life, and the risks gambling poses for youth. Having the conversation can help ensure your child is protected. It also gives them a powerful reason to say no to gambling on their own, and make sure that other youth are too. If you have the conversation, they won’t just know the rules; they will know why there are rules in the first place.
- Promote Positive Behaviors: Positive behaviors can influence others. From getting good grades in their favorite classes to having fun with their friends through team sports, clubs, art, and more, encouraging your child to pursue their passions lifts them and others up. In addition to raising your child into a well-rounded adult, you are teaching them to be a gambling-free role model that other youth can emulate.
- Be an Advocate: Preventing youth gambling takes everyone: parents, educators, professionals, and community members. In addition to ensuring positive behaviors among youth, you can help raise awareness around the issue of youth gambling and equip your community to prevent it. Check out Change the Game Ohio’s parent, educator, and professional toolkits for resources to empower your advocacy journey.
By taking action to prevent youth gambling, such as the suggestions above, you are setting youth up to achieve their full potential. For more youth gambling prevention tips, subscribe to the Pause Before You Play and Change the Game Ohio newsletter. Select the Problem Gambling Newsletter List to join. Additionally, you can follow @Pausebeforeyouplay_oh on Instagram, @PBYP_OH on X, and Pause Before You Play on Facebook.