February 1, 2024

Experts say increased access to online gambling may put teens at risk, featuring Sarah Clark, MPH

1 in 6 parents say they probably wouldn’t know if their teenager was betting online, a national poll suggests.

Sarah-Clark-MPH

As young people increasingly have access and exposure to online gambling, only one in four parents say they have talked to their teen about some aspect of virtual betting, a national poll suggests.

But over half of parents aren’t aware of their state’s legal age for online gambling and one in six admit they probably wouldn’t know if their child was betting online, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.

“Teens and young adults may have a difficult time going into a casino unnoticed but they have easy access to a variety of betting and gambling options,” said Mott Poll co-director Sarah Clark, M.P.H.

“This expanded accessibility has increased exposure to the risks of underage betting, but there is little regulation or conversation around this problem.”