Rutgers study: 42.7% of US teens gambled in past year

Among 13-to-27s overall, 52.5% gambled, with prediction market players also showing a high-risk rate.

The hit

A Rutgers University study, reported by CDC Gaming, finds 42.7% of Americans aged 13 to 17 gambled in the past year, with 11% of teen gamblers classed as high risk for problem gambling. The Center for Gambling Studies surveyed 1,677 Americans aged 13 to 27, finding more than half of 13-to-27s gambled in the past year.

Why it matters

Gambling by family & household members was strongly associated with gambling & problem gambling among young people, researchers said. Among high-risk 13-to-17s, 75.5% had a family member who gambles & 61.2% had gambled with one. Researchers recommend prevention education start in middle school.

The record

Teen gambling rate (13-17)	42.7% gambled in past year (Rutgers Center for Gambling Studies)
Weekly teen gamblers	18.9% of 13-to-17s gambled at least weekly
High-risk gamblers by race	17.7% of Black respondents & 12.8% of Hispanic respondents high risk, vs 6.4% of white respondents
Low-income households	Nearly 30% of gamblers from households earning under $10,000 classed high risk
Prediction market risk	About 40% of prediction market participants classed as high risk for problem gambling

What happens next

Researchers want a federal gambling regulator, national self-exclusion standards & a problem-gambling office inside the National Institutes of Health. Watch for lawmaker response to the study’s findings.

Sources: New Jersey: Rutgers study finds high rate of gambling those ages 13 to 17 – CDC Gaming

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