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A Rutgers survey found that 42.7% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 reported gambling in the past year.
High-risk problem gambling was especially prevalent among respondents who used prediction markets or played social casino games.
Survey Finds Gambling Problems Among Young Americans
Researchers surveyed 1,677 Americans ages 13 to 27, with 52.5% reporting gambling in the past year, according to a Rutgers University-New Brunswick survey.
Among past-year gamblers, 39.5% showed some symptoms of problem gambling and 10.3% were classified as high-risk problem gamblers. Across all respondents, the high-risk share was 5.4%. Among teenage gamblers ages 13 to 17, about 11% were classified as high risk.
The survey ran from April 24 through July 4, 2026. Its maximum margin of error was ±3.2 percentage points overall and ±6.1 percentage points for teens.
“We are living in a time where anyone can have a casino or sports book in their pocket,” Rutgers researcher Lia Nower said.
Prediction Markets and Social Casinos Show Elevated Risk
About 40% of respondents who traded on prediction markets and 41% of social casino players were classified as high-risk problem gamblers.
Nearly 46% of respondents who gambled used both online and in-person venues. Among high-risk problem gamblers, that share reached 65.4%.
High-risk problem gamblers participated in an average of 6.7 gambling activities, compared with 2.7 among gamblers without problems. Just over half of the high-risk group gambled weekly or more.
The study also found associations between high-risk problem gambling and alcohol use, binge drinking, drug use, excessive social media use, excessive shopping, anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation.
Family Gambling Features Prominently in Teen Findings
Among adolescents ages 13 to 17, 51.5% reported that a family or household member gambled. Among high-risk adolescent problem gamblers, 75.5% had a family member who gambled, and 61.2% had gambled with a family member.
Lower household income was also associated with higher rates of gambling problems.
Nower called for earlier prevention and broader screening.
“We cannot wait until young people reach adulthood to begin addressing gambling-related harm,” Nower said. “By that point, we will have very high rates of problem gambling. Prevention must start earlier, screening must be broader, and public policy must recognize that the gambling environment has changed dramatically.”
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Source: As reported by newswise.com.
