Study: Around 43% of Young People Gambled Last Year
A new Rutgers University study found that 42.7% of young Americans gambled last year. Researchers noted that the risk of problem gambling is particularly high among Black youth and in low-income households, and called for national-level education and treatment.
The Rutgers University Center for Gambling Studies study, titled 'Adolescent and Young Adult Gambling in the United States,' covered young people aged 13 to 27. According to the study, 52.5% of young Americans gambled last year. In the 13 to 17 age group, this rate was 42.7%. 10.8% of adolescents fell into the high-risk category for problem gambling.
Around 40% of the age group that gambled was found to have a low or moderate risk of problems. The researchers pointed out that young Americans have shown increased interest in gambling since the federal ban on sports betting was lifted in 2018. The high-risk rate was similar for men and women, at about 10%.
Among Black Americans, the rate of gambling in the past year was highest at 63.9%. Of the Black participants who gambled, 17.7% were found to be high-risk, compared with 12.8% of Hispanic participants. The rate among white participants was 6.4%. Risk increased as income decreased. About 30% of households with annual incomes below $10,000 were classified as high-risk.
Playing across multiple channels increases risk. 65.4% of high-risk gamblers had taken part in both online and land-based gambling. The researchers called for a coordinated national public health approach that covers the risks during adolescence, along with more education and treatment.
The US gambling industry earned record revenue in 2025, and tribal operators reached their highest levels ever.
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