As sports betting is gaining popularity in Massachusetts, there’s been an increase in cases where teens are finding ways to bet underage. To help combat this, the Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition is piloting a new curriculum in several schools in the state aimed at educating students about the risks of gambling.
Massachusetts to Conduct Lessons on the Dangers of Betting
The Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition, a public-private initiative formed by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, is rolling out a gambling education curriculum in schools. Campbell said the goal is to reach young people early, so that if they choose to gamble, they better understand the risks and can do so more safely and responsibly.
Medfield High School is one of 15 high schools and seven middle schools across Massachusetts that are educating students about the risks and consequences that can accompany the excitement of gambling. Paul Coutinho, the teacher leading the class, said action is needed before the problem grows even further, arguing that it has already reached a troubling level. He emphasized that gambling is not merely a game, but an activity that can affect a person’s finances, relationships, and overall well-being, as well as the lives of friends and family members.
Coutinho tries to engage the students in a discussion about the risks of gambling and its appeal to teenagers. He noted that it can seem like a fast and easy way to make money, but emphasized that people often do not talk about those who lose.
Teens Have Easy Access to Betting Content
According to data from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, residents have wagered $23.7 billion on sports since sports betting was legalized in Massachusetts in 2023, primarily through online platforms. Those figures reflect activity on legal sports betting apps only. Speaking of which, the state reopened applications for sports betting licenses in April, so the state may soon host new operators, ergo new ways for people to bet.
Young people, in particular, have been increasingly more active in betting. Separate research from the National Collegiate Athletic Association found that nearly 60% of people ages 18 to 22 have participated in sports betting. Teens interviewed said their peers also use illegal and unregulated betting platforms.
In interviews, students said age-verification requirements are easy to circumvent. One student noted that it is simple to misrepresent one’s age and doubted that such measures would prevent underage gambling. Others said minors can use a parent’s identification, borrow credentials from older friends, or sign in through a parent’s account. Another student added that obtaining fake IDs and using an adult’s account can make it relatively easy to bypass restrictions.
In other gambling-related news from Massachusetts, the state’s highest court backed regulators in an ongoing legal case against Kalshi that could see the former block the latter’s sports contracts.