Rutgers University study reveals rising gambling rates among U.S. teenagers

A recent survey by Rutgers University indicates that approximately 43% of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in the United States engaged in gambling activities within the past year. The study, which is the first of its kind in nearly two decades, examined 21 different activities, including sports betting, esports wagering, cryptocurrency trading, and prediction markets.

Researchers identified that roughly 11% of these underage gamblers are at high risk for developing gambling-related problems. Lia Nower, director of the Rutgers Center for Gambling Studies, described the findings as a “wake-up call” for policymakers, educators, and parents, noting that gambling is increasingly integrated into video games, social media, and everyday entertainment.

Other reports highlight the prevalence of pseudo-gambling in digital spaces, such as gacha games like Genshin Impact, which use in-game currency to encourage resource-based looting. Additionally, a Common Sense Media survey found that 36% of boys aged 11 to 17 had gambled in the previous year, often encountering gambling content through social media advertisements or clickbait.