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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