Shining the Light on Teen Problem Gambling Risks for World Teen Mental Wellness Day

March 2nd is World Teen Mental Wellness Day—a timely reminder that, as Problem Gambling Awareness Month kicks off, one of the most under-recognized threats to teen well-being is hiding in plain sight.

Every March 2nd, communities around the world observe World Teen Mental Wellness Day to open conversations, reduce stigma, and connect young people with resources to support their health and well-being. This year, the date falls at the very start of Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM)—and that timing matters. As gambling becomes more accessible than ever in Florida, teens and young adults are facing gambling-related risks that most adults aren’t even aware of. The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) is using this moment to shine the light on a growing public health concern: problem gambling among Florida’s youth. [1]

Problem Gambling: The Hidden Danger Growing in Plain Sight

Problem gambling has long been called “the hidden addiction” because—unlike substance abuse—it leaves no visible physical symptoms. For teenagers, that invisibility is even more pronounced. Yet research makes the scope of the problem hard to ignore: globally, an estimated 33.7% of adolescents in North America have gambled in the past 12 months, and more than two-thirds of adult gamblers report that their exposure to gambling during adolescence was a key contributing factor to their current gambling behavior. What begins as casual participation—a bracket challenge, a friendly bet on a game—can quietly evolve into a serious problem. [2]

Closer to home, Florida-specific research paints a striking picture. Lifetime participation in gambling was nearly 70% among Florida residents between the ages of 13 and 17, with over 40% reporting gambling in the past year and 11.5% identifying as weekly gamblers. These are not adults. These are high schoolers—and the risk does not stop there. [3]

Why Teens Are Especially Vulnerable to Problem Gambling

The teen brain is not fully developed until around age 25, leaving adolescents far more susceptible to impulsive decision-making and risk-taking behaviors than adults. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), adolescents are especially susceptible to gambling-related harm due to heightened reward sensitivity and immature executive control and impulsivity—and the accessibility of mobile sports betting only amplifies those vulnerabilities. Exposure to sports betting advertisements and “risk-free” promotions via social media and sports media platforms further fuels irrational beliefs about winning, which research has shown to be a key driver of problem gambling among adolescents. [4]

The data bears this out. A 2025 report found that 5% of children aged 12–17 are now grappling with gambling issues—a number that has quadrupled in just two years. Teen boys are at particular risk: young males aged 25 and under are more likely to meet the criteria for problem gambling. [5]

Florida’s Legalization of Sports Betting: A Youth Crisis Accelerating

Since the legalization of sports betting in Florida on December 7, 2023, the FCCG has observed a dramatic surge in help contacts—particularly among young people. Calls to the 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine doubled in mid-December 2023, shortly after the launch of Hard Rock Bet, with young men making up a large share of those contacts. Post-legalization data shows that 43% of online sports bettors experiencing problems in Florida are 25 and under, and more than half (51%) of sports bettors seeking help started gambling at or before the age of 20. Overall, FCCG data shows that online gambling help contacts have increased 426% since 2019–2020.

Florida college students are also significantly more at-risk than the general adult population, with 14.5% at risk for developing gambling problems compared to 7.1% of adult residents. The FCCG’s own college gambling research found that sports betting was the number two form of gambling among problem and disordered college student gamblers—a finding that was established before sports betting was legalized and made available on every smartphone. [6]

The Consequences Go Far Beyond Money

Problem gambling doesn’t just affect a teen’s wallet—it can unravel nearly every area of their life. Research shows that adolescent problem gambling is associated with poor academic achievement, school truancy, financial problems, depressive symptoms, low self-esteem, deterioration of social relationships, substance abuse, and even suicidal ideation. Adolescent problem gamblers in Florida also had significantly higher rates of alcohol, drug, and tobacco use compared to non-gambling peers. These are not isolated statistics—they reflect the cascading consequences of an addiction that often goes undetected and untreated for far too long. [3]

Awareness is the First Step—Recovery Is Possible

World Teen Mental Wellness Day exists to remind us that no young person should face mental health challenges alone—and problem gambling is no exception. As we enter PGAM, the FCCG is calling on parents, educators, coaches, healthcare providers, and community members to become educated, speak openly, and remove the stigma that prevents teens from asking for help.

As the only organization in the Sunshine State with over three decades of experience addressing problem gambling, the FCCG’s 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine provides 24/7, confidential, and multilingual support—including youth-specific resources and referrals designed specifically for Florida’s young gamblers and their loved ones. Free resources available through the HelpLine include youth-specific mental health and treatment services, self-exclusion programs, and educational literature for parents, youth service providers, and college faculty and staff. There is also a free College Student Online Assessment available on our website. The results speak for themselves: 93% of help seekers reported reduced gambling after reaching out.

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This World Teen Mental Wellness Day—and all March long—the FCCG invites you to shine the light on teen gambling risks. Learn more, access free educational resources and interactive games, and find out how to become a PGAM partner by visiting the FCCG’s PGAM Microsite.

If you’re worried about a young person’s gambling, or your own, don’t wait. Call the 24/7, Confidential, and Multilingual 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine today. Help and hope are just one call away.

References:

[1] “World Teen Mental Wellness Day.” National Today, 15 Dec. 2021, nationaltoday.com/world-teen-mental-wellness-day/.

[2] “Youth Gambling Factsheet Updated October 8, 2025.” National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), Oct. 2025, www.ncpgambling.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025-Youth-Gambling-Factsheet.pdf.

[3] Shapira, N. A., Ferguson, M. A., Frost-Pineda, K., & Gold, M. S. (2002). Gambling and Problem Gambling Prevalence among Adolescents in Florida.

[4] Volkow, Dr. Nora. “Gambling Disorder in the Age of Mobile Sports Betting.” National Institutes on Drug Abuse, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 14 Nov. 2025, nida.nih.gov/about-nida/noras-blog/2025/11/gambling-disorder-in-the-age-of-mobile-sports-betting.

[5] Schlott, Rikki. “NYC-Area Boys Using Bar Mitzvah Money to Gamble as Sports Betting Addiction on the Rise with Teens.” New York Post, 16 Oct. 2025, nypost.com/2025/10/16/lifestyle/sports-betting-addiction-on-the-rise-with-teens-according-to-kids/.

[6] Gupta, R. & Derevensky, J. International Center for Youth Gambling Problems and High-Risk Behaviors, McGill University and Center for Research, Evaluation, Assessment and Measurement (CREAM) Department of Africana Studies at the University of South Florida (2008). Gambling and Problem Gambling Prevalence Among College Students in Florida.