A new Rutgers University study reveals that 42.7% of Americans aged 13 to 17 engaged in some form of gambling over the past year, with 11% of these young gamblers classified as high risk for problem gambling.
The research, conducted by the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers School of Social Work, surveyed 1,677 individuals aged 13 to 27. It found that nearly one in five adolescents (18.9%) gambled at least weekly. The types of gambling popular among teens included bingo, raffles, and games of skill.
Importantly, the study highlights that gambling risk begins early and affects both genders almost equally, with high-risk problem gambling rates of 10.7% for females and 9.9% for males. Racial and ethnic disparities were also evident: 63.9% of Black respondents reported gambling in the past year, with 17.7% classified as high risk, compared to 12.8% of Hispanic and 6.4% of white gamblers.
Household income played a significant role in gambling risks. Nearly 30% of gamblers from households earning less than $10,000 annually were high risk, as were 22.8% from households earning between $10,000 and $20,000. This suggests that lower-income families face greater vulnerability to gambling harms.
Family influence emerged as a strong factor. Among high-risk adolescents, 75.5% had a family member who gambled, 66.3% believed a family member had a gambling problem, and 61.2% had gambled with a family member. This connection underlines how household gambling behaviors can impact youth gambling habits and risks.
The study also noted that 20.7% of the 13-to-27 age group participated in sports betting, while 18.4% engaged in season-long fantasy contests. Emerging gambling-like activities such as cryptocurrency trading (14%), high-risk stock trading (12.9%), social casino games (8.5%), and prediction markets (6.6%) were also reported. Notably, about 40% of prediction market participants and 41% of social casino players were classified as high risk for problem gambling.
Rutgers researchers recommend starting prevention education in middle school to equip teachers, students, parents, and counselors with evidence-based information about gambling risks. They also call for stronger oversight of emerging gambling-like products that may lack traditional safeguards.
Further proposals include establishing a federal gambling regulatory agency to set national minimum standards, including self-exclusion programs that cover both online and land-based gambling. The study urges funding for prevention and treatment efforts, especially in low-income communities, by creating a dedicated office for problem gambling within the National Institutes of Health.
As Lia Nower, director of the Center for Gambling Studies, stated, “We are living in a time where anyone can have a casino or sports book in their pocket. Now teens who should be playing sports are betting on them, often with family members.“ This highlights the ease of access to gambling for youth and the need for targeted protective measures.
Players, parents, and communities should be aware of these risks and seek resources on responsible gambling and support services if needed. For more information, readers can consult the full Rutgers study and related responsible gambling resources.
Learn more about responsible gambling and underage gambling issues on GamblingNews.today Responsible Gambling and explore related developments in the USA gambling market.
Source: CDC Gaming.
Additional context on gambling industry trends can be found in recent reports such as MGM Resorts’ Q3 2026 revenue report and Churchill Downs’ new Thoroughbred Championship Series, which reflect ongoing market developments that may influence gambling accessibility and products available to consumers.
- Rutgers Study Finds 43% of Teens Gambled in Past Year - October 30, 2026
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- Illinois Expands Self-Exclusion to 50,000 Video Gaming - October 26, 2026