Learning Series: Betting on Risk

Betting on Risk: What Families Need to Know About Online Gambling and its Effects on Young People

“36% of boys age 11 to 17 report gambling in the past year, rising significantly from 32% of boys age 11 to 49% of those age 17.” — A Common Sense Media Study released in 2026

Gaming or gambling? With schools letting out for the summer, many young people will spend more time online, increasing their exposure to gambling-like features in games, sports betting content, and online gambling platforms. As the lines between gaming and gambling continue to blur, students from elementary school through college are encountering these risks earlier and more often than many adults realize. In fact according to the same study, “Nearly half of boys see posts about gambling, yet only 14% actually went looking for them.”

Now is the time for families to get educated. On May 21, 2026, Second Story hosted a Learning Series Event. Watch the recording to learn more about the growing prevalence of online gambling among youth and what it means for young people today. This session will explore how these trends are showing up in teens’ lives, why they can be difficult to recognize, and the real risks they pose.

You’ll hear from Second Story staff as well as a co-founder of “Parents Standing Together,” a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about youth gambling-related harm, empowering parents with tools and knowledge to recognize and mitigate risks, and providing peer support to navigating its impact. She’ll share her journey as a mom to a gambling-addicted teen. This organization was featured in a recent story on NBC News.

You’ll also gain practical tools, including warning signs to watch for and strategies for starting informed, age-appropriate conversations at home.

And please, share this video with others so we can spread awareness about this concerning trend.

Need Help?

If you need help right away, our 24/7 hotline provides support and referrals to services in the Washington DC metro area.
Call 1-800-SAY-TEEN or text “TEENHELP” to 855-11

We make every dollar count. The direct support of young people, their families and their communities, is our first priority. Here are examples of how your donation may be used.

$20,000

Three high school students experiencing homelessness receive a full year of rental assistance and support services so they can remain in school and graduate with their class.

$1,000

One teenager receives a safe haven, warm bed, food, and round-the-clock support for five nights at Second Story for Teens in Crisis, or
Eight months of therapy for a young woman in the Second Story for Young Mothers program.

$500

One teen receives daily counseling during a three-week stay at Second Story for Teens in Crisis, or
Twenty counseling sessions for the children and teens who are at-risk and participating in our after-school programs.

$100

Three teens receive a therapy session at Second Story for Teens in Crisis, or
Two weeks of food for a young mother and her child at Second Story for Young Mothers.

Thank you for your support!