DraftKings and other betting sites urge parents to talk to kids about gambling – but disavow role in increase in teen wagering
Sports betting companies urge parents to discuss gambling risks with children while denying responsibility for rising teen wagering and opposing stricter regulation.Summary
A Rutgers University survey found that more than 42% of Americans aged 13 to 17 gambled in the past year, with 10% of those at high risk for problem gambling. DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said parents should talk to their kids about gambling addiction, and critics agree parents have a role but argue companies like DraftKings are deflecting blame, denying that addiction is rising, and opposing legislation such as the Safe Bet Act that would restrict advertising and deposits. Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal sports betting ban in 2018, 39 states and Washington DC have legalized it, and the commercial sports betting industry generated over $16.8bn in revenue in 2025. Industry groups dispute studies linking legalization to higher rates of gambling disorder, while therapists, pediatricians, and parents report sharp increases in young men seeking help, financial ruin, and lives disrupted by gambling. Parents Standing Together, a support group, is advocating for stronger protections for young people.
(Source：The Guardian)