You’re watching a game with your friends, but instead of just cheering for your team, someone says, “I need one more touchdown for my parlay.”
Well, in today’s age, this is reality for a lot of teens.
With the increasing rise of sports betting and the increased popularity of fantasy football, many students have seen an increase in familiarity with apps such as DraftKings and FanDuel. And although there may be a number of high school students who are not allowed to place wagers due to legal restrictions, the impact of these types of wagering activities will likely be difficult for those students to avoid.
If you turn on almost any game currently airing, you will likely see the betting lines next to the scores. In addition, commercials during games are advertising “risk-free bets” and other promotions with sign-up incentives.
For example, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the frequency of betting was up to 24 percent higher during matches where gambling ads were presented versus channels that did not screen them.
As well, many students at AFS also participate in fantasy football leagues with their friends. They then take turns drafting players and tracking statistics each week. Although some students choose to play fantasy football without using real money, most students here at AFS will tell you that nearly all fantasy football leagues include money.
To better understand how students actually view gambling and fantasy football, I spoke with Henry Sylva ‘26. When asked about fantasy football, he said, “Yes, I think fantasy football is gambling, but I wouldn’t consider it high-tier gambling; it’s just a small wager with friends, but not to the highest extreme.”
Many studies have shown that gambling is far from even among all students. Boys are significantly more likely to gamble than girls. Furthermore, male gamblers tended to gamble more frequently and at greater risk levels than female gamblers. At times, boys who gamble were twice as likely to experience gambling-related problems compared to girls. The connection to sports culture has increased the likelihood that boys will gamble. Sports culture tends to be more strongly associated with male-dominated social groups. As such, participating in betting pools and/or fantasy leagues may be seen as more socially acceptable.
The increasing normalization of gambling is due to the frequency with which students view betting content outside of sports games.
This is supported by actual data. According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately 68 percent of young adults aged 14-21 have gambled at least one time during the last year, and an estimated 11 percent of them gamble often. Furthermore, research indicates that as many as 2-7 percent of teens may develop severe problem gambling issues, while even more teens are at-risk for developing these issues. Reports indicate that over 70 percent of U.S. high school students report having participated in some form of gaming, and close to ¼ of these students report participating in regular gaming activities.
Social media platforms (e.g., TikTok and Instagram) commonly feature short videos and posts showcasing winnings and strategies for placing bets. Students viewing these posts over time may begin to form unrealistic perceptions regarding the ease of generating income through betting. Eventually, this perception could lead to a misperceived sense of risk associated with betting on sports.
To add another perspective, I also spoke with Kyle Layne-Allen, an English teacher at AFS, about the role schools should play in addressing gambling. He said, “I think schools in certain spaces should be able to talk about gambling, like in health, affinity spaces, and sports teams.” This shows that while gambling may not be discussed in every classroom, there are specific places where these conversations could be helpful.
Layne-Allen also pointed out why gambling is so appealing to teens in the first place. He explained that exposure plays a major role, saying teens encounter it constantly through the media they consume, especially sports. In addition, he noted that many teens see gambling as a way to make money, especially when they don’t have a steady source of income.
Additionally, there is a significant amount of social pressure involved when students are surrounded by others who are actively engaged in discussions surrounding bets, fantasy scores, or possible payouts. While a student may have no interest in engaging in betting activities, simply being a part of a group of people who engage in these types of conversations may provide them with a feeling that they must participate in order to be included.
As a result, a student’s decision to engage in betting behaviors may occur without them being consciously aware of the influence of social pressure.
The majority of the way students experience sports has changed in the last few decades due to the growing presence of gambling (betting) and fantasy football. The rise of advertising on TV and social media makes it increasingly difficult for students to separate their experience at a live event or playing a sport from their potential financial gain.
Both researchers, as well as the perspective of many students, such as Sylva, show evidence that the way teens view sports has been impacted by these changes. Today, where a lot of kids bet very little money and play in low-stakes leagues, does appear harmless; however, the long-term effects of betting and fantasy football should be monitored. At some point, you have to ask yourself, are you watching the game, or just watching your money?
