43% of Texas teens gamble, new national survey finds
Rutgers researchers surveyed 1,700 Americans and found that nearly half of those 17 and under wagered money in the past year.
By Salma Farouk ·
Nearly 43% of American teenagers ages 13 to 17 reported gambling in the past year, according to a survey published Wednesday. The study, conducted by researchers at Rutgers University’s Center for Gambling Studies, surveyed nearly 1,700 Americans between the ages of 13 and 27. Overall, 52.5% of all respondents said they had gambled in the previous 12 months.
The findings indicate that betting is common among minors, for whom gambling is illegal. Lia Nower, director of the Rutgers center and lead author of the report, described the current environment as one where anyone can hold a casino or sportsbook in their pocket. She noted that teens are often betting on sports they play, frequently using money provided by family members.
The survey was conducted during the spring and early summer. The research team identified it as the first national gambling prevalence study of U.S. adolescents and young adults in nearly two decades. Because the report does not provide direct comparisons to previous national data, it is difficult to determine if the current rates represent a sharp increase from historical baselines.
Nower referenced a 2007 study in the Journal of Gambling Studies that found 68% of respondents between 14 and 21 had gambled in the prior year. However, the 2007 study used different methodologies and age ranges, making a direct comparison challenging. Despite these differences, the new report suggests that problem gambling rates are higher than they were in 2007.
Among respondents who reported gambling activity, nearly 40% showed symptoms of problem gambling. The report classified 10% of all gamblers as high-risk problem gamblers. Specifically, about 11% of teens 17 and under who gambled were classified as high risk for problems.
The researchers defined gambling broadly to include 21 activities, ranging from street games and lottery tickets to cryptocurrency trading and prediction markets. Nower said the definition covered anything where money is wagered. Scratch-off tickets were the most common activity reported, followed by bingo and lottery tickets. Around 20% of gamblers said they had participated in sports betting, while just over 6% bet in prediction markets.
The rise in teen gambling coincides with the legalization of sports betting in 39 states and Washington, D.C., following a Supreme Court ruling more than eight years ago. Mobile gambling apps have become particularly popular, and prediction market platforms like Polymarket, Novig, and Kalshi have increased advertising visibility during major sporting events such as the World Series. Nower stated that the findings should serve as a wake-up call for parents, educators, and policymakers to begin addressing gambling-related harm before young people reach adulthood.
