The global sports betting market is worth more than $120 billion, and prediction markets are on track to reach $1 trillion in volume by 2030. Dr. Debra Soh, a neuroscientist, warned that many Americans now view sports betting less like gambling and more like investing.
One in five Americans sees sports betting as a form of investing, Soh wrote. Among Gen Z, that share rises to two in five. Gen Z accounts for roughly half of all online betting activity. A study published earlier this year found that 36% of boys ages 11 to 17 said they took part in gambling or gambling-related activities in the past year.
Online gambling changes the reach of the vice. A person can bet at any hour from a phone, with fewer visible barriers than a casino. That makes losses easier to hide from parents, spouses, and friends. It also makes it easier for a casual habit to become a destructive one.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders says gambling disorder can include preoccupation with gambling, repeated failed efforts to stop, lying to hide gambling, and betting to make up for losses. Soh also noted a documented increase in emergency department visits among boys and young men who sports bet.
This is a national family issue. Advertisements for gambling apps are common, and social media videos often show bettors celebrating wins. Children are not prepared to weigh the consequences of debt, addiction, and secrecy. Parents, churches, and schools should speak plainly about the harms of gambling before app-based betting becomes normal in a child’s life.
