Gambling Readiness Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Coaches
Introduction
This guide is designed to provide context around gambling for parents, teachers, and coaches living and working in Rhode Island to bring awareness to areas of heightened risk for youth and young adults in their lives. Five years after the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), 38 states have legalized sports betting and enacted diverse regulations governing legalized forms of gambling. The rapid legalization of sports betting presents both benefits and risks. Americans' legal participation in sports betting generated over $12B in revenue in 2024, an increase of over 30% compared to the previous year. States fiscally benefit from this emerging industry which is projected to significantly grow. Rhode Island offers multiple forms of legalized gambling including Lottery, Brick and Mortar Casinos, Online Casino Games (igaming) Online Sports Betting, and Retail Sports Betting, all of which are regulated by the Rhode Island Lottery. The Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation oversees Parimutuel (horse) betting as well as Daily Fantasy Sports (‘DFS’ or ‘Fantasy’). While Daily Fantasy Sports are not legally classified as gambling, these products present risks to users which are similar to gambling.
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Gambling Addiction While the majority of adults who legally gamble are able to do so responsibly, a small but significant minority experience harms. The immaturity of the legalized US market combined with 24/7 access through technological innovation exacerbates this risk. Notably, gambling addiction carries the highest risk of suicidality compared to other addictions. Risk factors include: • Having a large proportion of family and friends who gamble • Early exposure to gambling • Possessing greater risk taking behavior and impulsivity • Having areas of poor functioning, including medical, psychiatric, and/or substance use disorders • Co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, or substance abuse • Cognitive distortions including belief in luck and control over outcomes Often called the "hidden addiction", problem gambling is widely misunderstood and highly stigmatized, which often discourages those struggling from seeking treatment. Youth and Gambling With the increasing popularity of online gambling and gaming platforms, betting has become more widely accessible. Research indicates that youth are especially vulnerable to the risks associated with gambling due to exposure to marketing and ongoing neurological development.
Peer group gambling, like other aspects of peer activities during adolescence, is also a significant factor. Peers may introduce others to gambling as a shared social activity.
While statistics around youth gambling participation and related harms can vary, it is generally agreed that youth and young persons not only participate in gambling despite being underage, but are at a higher risk of experiencing harms compared ot the adult population. A 2024 Rhode Island Student Survey showed that 21% of high school students reported having ever gambled, while a 2021 survey in Massachusetts indicated that 43.4% of middle school students and 42.4% of high school students had engaged in gambling within the past year. Research shows that that between 4–8% of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 have a very serious gambling problem, while another 10–15% are at-risk for developing a gambling problem It is further suggested that that the prevalence rates of probable pathological gambling in youth (4–8%) are considerably higher than rates of pathological gambling in the general adult population (1–3%).
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Although legal gambling includes protections like age limits and identity verification, unregulated websites remain accessible and pose a significant risk to youth and young people. Proxy betting, a practice where one person places a wager on behalf of another who cannot legally or geographically participate, further exacerbates this issue by bypassing these safeguards. College Students and Gambling Gambling is particularly popular amongst college students with 2023 data revealing that 58% of young adults aged 18-22 have engaged in sports betting. The prevalence of sports betting and problem gambling was 12.4% and 11.5%, respectively. The prevalence of sports betting is not rare, and for context, the rate reported among U.S. young adults is greater than the young adult cigarette smoking rate and higher than problem gambling rates within the adult population. Sports betting is pervasive among young adults and on college campuses and poses a particularly high risk to student-athletes. National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-commissioned data found that 27% of compliance directors at autonomy schools reported that they had dealt with a sports betting problem amongst athletes or staff within the past year, a substantial increase from 2019. The normalization of sports betting across college campuses combined with regular athletic engagement, propensity towards risky behavior, and neurological immaturity for persons under the age of 25 make student-athletes vulnerable to gambling addiction. Research further suggests that persons belonging to communities of color are at an increased risk of gambling harm and are less likely to seek treatment or support. Harassment and Integrity The 2023 NCAA survey of campus administrators found that 10% of Division I respondents were aware of student-athletes being harassed online or in person by someone with gambling interests. With most threats being sent via social media, student-athletes and staff who receive threats should take screenshots and share them with the appropriate athletic department staff member as soon as possible. In Rhode Island, proposition betting (“prop betting”) on college athletics is prohibited, and wagering on in-state collegiate teams or events is banned unless they are participating in a tournament. However, Rhode Island collegiate sports may still be accessible to bettors outside the state, increasing the risk of harassment for student-athletes from external bettors.
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Call to Action for Parents, Teachers and Coaches
Set the standard Youth and young persons are highly impressionable and may develop distortions about gambling if it is highly normalized within their environments. It is therefore critical for parents, teachers, and coaches to model good behavior to help preventing youth from experiencing gambling harm. Look out for warning signs • Lying or being secretive about gambling activities • Spending excessive time or money on gambling • Borrowing money or stealing to fund gambling • Declining academic performance or skipping school • Changes in behavior including mood swings, anxiety, and irritability • A preoccupation with sports or gambling Have the conversation Research highlights the importance of having early conversations about gambling and its associated risks. While every family is unique, staying informed about the realities of gambling exposure is essential to help inform choices that align with your family’s needs and values.
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Seeking professional advice and support for addressing gambling-related harms impact on youth and young persons is highly recommended. Available resources include:
Problem Gambling Support
National Council of Problem Gambling (NCPG) Helpline
24/7 free, confidential, and multilingual support related to problem gambling and treatment resources for individuals and loved ones. The RICPG provides workshops and seminars, online resources, and community outreach related to problem and responsible gambling. Third-party software which can be installed onto multiple devices to block all legal and illegal gambling sites. offering statewide counseling services for both insured and non-insured individuals and their families seeking help with gambling problems. 24/7 network of Comprehensive Resources in Rhode Island
Call: 1-800-GAMBLER Text: 800GAM Chat/Visit: ncpgambling.org/help-treatment
Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling (RICPG)
Visit: ricpg.com
Problem Gambling Services
Visit: problemgamblingservices.com Call: 401-499-2472
GamBan
Visit: gamban.com
Kindbridge Behavioral Health Online therapy service that offers support through licensed counselors specializing in gambling addiction.
Visit: kindbridge.com
Crisis Support
The Steve Fund
24/7 free, confidential support for students of color. 24/7 free and confidential counselling for LGBTQ+. 24/7 free, and confidential support for individuals and loved ones.
Text: 741741 Visit: stevefund.org
The Trevor Project
Call: 866-488-7386 Text: START to 678678 Chat/Visit: thetrevorproject.org
Suicide Prevention
Call: 988 Text: 988 Chat/Visit: 988lifeline.org
Veterans Crisis Line
24/7 free, and confidential support for veterans.
Call: 988+1 Text: 838255 Chat/Visit: 988lifeline.org/help-yourself/veterans/
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Interested in learning more?
The mission of the Rhode Island Counil on Problem Gambling (RICPG) is to promote public health concerning gambling in Rhode Island. The RICPG provides workshops and seminars, online resources, and community outreach related to problem and responsible gambling. Check out their partnership with Powered Up Parent, a program designed to help parents of teens and tweens understand and navigate the world of video games: ricpg.com/ Problem Gambling Services (PGS) is a 24/7 network of comprehensive resources in Rhode Island that provides statewide counseling services for both insured and non-insured individuals. Services include screening, education, case management, peer services, individual, family, or group counseling. Problem Gambling Services also provides free In-service training on problem gambling and responsible gaming to the behavioral health treatment community in the State of Rhode Island and can offer Continuing Education Credits (CEU’s) to licensed professionals. ROGA, the Responsible Online Gaming Association in collaboration with EPIC Global Solutions, Kindbridge Behavioral Health, and The Responsible Gambling Council, has developed a free digital educational solution to educate college students and staff at: knowyourplay.org The NCAA has launched Draw the Line, a campaign prioritizing student-athlete education on the effects of sports betting while also addressing problem gambling for all who consume and participate in college sports: ncaa.org/sports/2024/3/15/draw-the-line-on-sports-betting.aspx
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Sports Betting 101 Industry Terminology Appendix
Sportsbook (Book) - A digital or physical place where someone can place a sports bet Host / Account Manager - A dedicated sportsbook staff assigned to high-value customers Promo - Promotional offers which typically consist of bonus bets, credit, or deposit matches Betting Terminology Action - Having a bet or wager on an event Bad Beat - When a bettor loses a wager that they were seemingly on the verge of winning Bankroll - Amount of money available to gamble In-Play / Live Betting - Bets offered once a sporting event begins Line - Betting odds posted by a sportsbook Moneyline / Straight - A bet that is contingent on whether a team will win or lose a game Over / Under (“Totals”) - A bet on whether that event will go “over” or “under” a specific number Parlay - A single wager that involves the bettor making multiple bets and tying them into one Point Spread (“Spread”) - A bet on the margin of victory. A favorite is listed with a negative spread (-3.5), while an underdog is listed with a positive spread (+3.5). A winning wager on a favorite means that the contest was decided by a margin that exceeded the spread Prop(osition) Bet - A bet made on something that may occur during a game that isn’t necessarily tied to the game’s outcome (such as individual athlete performance) Betting Example Betting lines reflect a team’s expected margin of victory or defeat. For example, Teams A and B are playing tonight. If it is believed that Team A will win by 250 points, a line will be set at:
Team A -250 Team B +200
Since Team A is favored to win, you will see negative odds (minus sign). This means you need to risk a certain amount of money to profit $100. For example, since the odds for a bet are -250, a bettor would have to bet $250 to profit $100 (total payout of $350).
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