Since a landmark 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, over half of states have legalized some type of online gambling. Although most states restrict online sport and casino betting to 21 years or older, there are loopholes and concerns that adolescents and teens may bypass security measures. 

Online sports betting is similar to fantasy football leagues and college basketball tournament pools that are popular with sports fans, including high schoolers and even younger kids, Clark says.

“Many online gambling options will seem familiar to teens,” Clark said. “They feel like games kids have been playing on their phones, including features like bonus points and rewards. That familiarity may make it harder for teens to appreciate the difference between playing for fun and playing for money.”

Yet, just two percent of parents polled believe that their teen has used an online betting platform, while more than half of parents felt they would definitely know if their teen has been betting online.

“Parents may be underestimating their teen’s interest and savviness,” Clark said. “Online betting can be difficult to detect because a teen can easily log in on their smartphone or other personal device, delete the search history, hide the app or use it discretely.”

Additionally, two-thirds of parents reported their teen has a bank account or debit or credit card in their own name that could be used to register for online betting platforms. This makes it even more possible, Clark notes, for teens to participate in online betting without their parents’ knowledge.