Ding! Ding! The host opens the front door of their home to see a group of some of their closest friends gathered on their doorstep to enjoy some Sunday football. Snacks are set up on the kitchen counter, everyone is wearing the jersey of their favorite team and the group of teens prepare for an exciting slate of games.
As the afternoon carries on, however, the mutual feeling of excitement and joy slowly fades. Everyone present has buried their face in their phones, checking their latest parlays or the score to their fantasy football games. This group of teens who originally intended to enjoy an entertaining day of football games now are pitted against each over an app that they shouldn’t even be allowed to have. Is this okay?
Sportsbooks, or systems estimating likelihood and probability, have been around for thousands of years. However, the first modern sportsbook was used in England by Harry Ogden during the late 18th century. The purpose of using a sportsbook was to determine the probability of his horse winning a race. As time continued to unfold and as new sports were growing globally, sportsbooks evolved. Fans would now put currency or valuables on the line in order to earn more, causing a domino effect of gambling addictions worldwide that is still continuing today.
Although adults are mature and responsible enough to dictate where they decide to put their money, teenagers are not. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, teenagers aren’t fully mature until they reach the age of 25. Therefore, giving them the freedom to spend money that may not even be theirs, in a highly addictive format shouldn’t be allowed. Wasting money on sports betting at a young age can lead to larger consequences down the line, such as debt, anxiety and addiction.
A Rutgers University study taken in 2024 states that 14% of sports bettors have reported thoughts of suicide, with 10% attempting suicide. If the mental health effects are this severe, is it really worth placing a bet just to make a game a bit more exciting?
Some young sports bettors believe it is. The adrenaline of watching the player or team you bet on entices the younger fans to keep placing more bets. The feeling of anticipation and stress can often create a more energetic viewing experience for fans.
“[Betting] makes the games more interesting,” stated one MCHS student, who agreed to talk honestly on the condition of anonymity. “It’s fun to watch the individual players and see if they can get the number I bet that they could.”
The majority of young sports bettors aren’t going to admit to not being responsible enough to engage in sports gambling. However, some are able to recognize what sports betting does to a person’s mental and emotional state if they aren’t responsible enough.
“I believe some teenagers should bet and some shouldn’t,” another anonymous sports bettor from MCHS claims. “The people who don’t have a job or aren’t mature enough probably shouldn’t bet. But, if you are using your own money, I think that you should have every right to.”
The purpose of this article is not to get rid of sports betting completely. If used responsibly, it can make for a memorable viewing experience with friends, family or anyone you may decide to watch a game with. However, the addiction created through sports betting is too high of a risk to let teenagers participate. Without the proper financial stability or a fully developed mind, teens may be setting themselves up for a harmful addiction that can stay with them for the rest of their lives. And it all starts with just one bet.