Youth Gambling Addiction: A Growing Concern

0:00Youth gambling addiction is on the rise, especially since sports betting win mainstream after the Supreme Court ruling in 2018. Teens and young adults like a former New Jersey ice cream scooper, who started betting as a teen, are getting hooked fast. Stat show 2-7% of young betters develop addictions, compared to just 1% of adults. Experts say young brains chased the thrill before self-control kicks in. Legal betting exploded from $13 billion wager nationwide in 2019 to over $160 billion last year. A big driver is micro betting, where people wager on tiny in-game moments, but the next basket or pitch speed. This keeps users glued to apps non-stop, wrapping up the risks way more than old school bets. People in recovery share how easy apps made it to bet anywhere, anytime, even linking to other issues like drinking. Clinicians call it a progressive disorder that hits young guys hard with its excitement. Families and advocates are pushing back, with groups like Common Sense Media backing new laws for tougher age checks and add rules in states like California and New York.

1:06Recent studies link early betting before age 18, to an 80% higher addiction risk later on. A new lawsuit targets draft Kings and Fandall, claiming their notifications, hook users at weak moments. Lawmakers propose bans on AI-powered micro bets and deposit limits, but states love the tax billions pouring in. Recovery stories offer hope, with folks now using social media to warrant teens. As platforms evolve, experts urge action before this public health issue spirals further out of control. That's your update from Durham News Today, powered by AI. I'm Corey with The Story.