VCU, Virginia independent schools partner to address rise in teen gambling

By Kyra Newman

Teenagers are gambling earlier, more often and with fewer safeguards than many adults realize.

That's the unsettling reality revealed by two overlapping conversations - one happening inside Virginia schools and another unfolding inside Virginia Commonwealth University's gambling research and treatment programs.

That shared concern sparked a partnership between the university's Department of Rehabilitation Counseling, part of the College of Health Professions, and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. VCU leaders believe their effort could generate foundational research about teen gambling, an emerging issue grounded in smartphone use with everything from video gaming to sports betting apps.

Helming the effort is the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, housed within VCU's rehabilitation counseling program. VPGH is using this engagement to develop tailored prevention curriculum educational resources for schools and parents, and to gather data about how gambling behaviors are showing up among adolescents.

For Betsy Johnson, VAIS executive director, the topic surfaced unexpectedly.

"A year ago, I didn't know this was an issue," Johnson said. "Then, at the exact same time we were introduced to the VCU team, one of our member schools reached out asking if we had resources related to student gambling."

That overlap immediately caught her attention.

Representing 94 independent schools across the state, VAIS is accustomed to helping heads of schools and their teams navigate emerging student wellness issues. Over the years, schools have proactively confronted concerns around smoking, alcohol, vaping and social media. Gambling, Johnson believes, may be the next major challenge requiring early intervention and education.

"We're in a nimble position where we can take something like this and run with it as best we can to spread awareness," Johnson said, comparing the current moment to the early days of vaping concerns before many adults fully understood the scale of the problem.

Growing concerns with teen online gambling

The warning signs are already clear.

"The average age when a child starts gambling is between 11 and 13," said Carolyn E. Hawley, Ph.D., VCU professor of rehabilitation counseling and VPGH director. "Youth also have double the rate of disordered gambling compared to adults."

Unlike previous generations, today's teenagers carry near-constant access to gambling opportunities through smartphones, social media and online gaming platforms. While casinos remain legally out of reach for the under-21 group, those same individuals can easily skirt those age limits on illegal phone-based betting sites.

At the same time, Hawley said today's gambling ecosystem often hides inside activities that parents and educators may view as harmless.

"There's really this convergence between gaming and gambling. Some youth may not even realize that by using loot boxes or skins in video games, they're engaging in gambling-like behavior," she said, calling out "rewards" that players can buy or win to keep playing.

Social media algorithms and advertising intensify the problem by continually feeding gambling content to young users. "The algorithm is going to work for all of their social media to just keep having it in front of them all the time," Hawley said. "Even the simplest games can start to pull them in."

The partnership aims to tackle the issue before behaviors escalate into addiction.

VCU researchers are currently conducting needs assessments with school staff to better understand what educators are seeing, what misconceptions exist and what resources schools need most. That data will help shape future prevention curriculum, professional development training and parent outreach.

Coordinating support for youths

Importantly, both Johnson and Hawley stressed that parents must be part of the conversation.

"What we tend to find is that parents consider gambling less risky than substance use," Hawley said. "But we know the earlier someone starts gambling, the more likely they are to develop problems later."

Sports betting has become a particular concern. Hawley noted that many adolescents are gambling through illegal online markets or by accessing legal platforms through family accounts. She also said gambling behaviors are increasingly showing up in academic settings and counseling referrals.

"We're seeing college students using student loan money for gambling instead of housing and food," Hawley said. "Poor academic performance and financial problems are becoming part of what we're seeing clinically."

Johnson believes schools are uniquely positioned to intervene early because educators often notice behavioral changes before parents do. "Our role is to raise awareness, provide resources and create opportunities for schools to learn from each other," she said. "We want to help schools stay aware of what's emerging before it becomes overwhelming."

The partnership has already begun outreach efforts through VAIS conferences and school leadership meetings, and VCU plans to involve peer recovery specialists who can provide education sessions directly within schools and communities.

While the effort aims to curb teen gambling, Hawley noted the work will ultimately help students understand risk, marketing influence, financial decision-making and how quickly seemingly harmless behavior can spiral.

"We know that 'just say no' messaging alone doesn't work," Hawley said. "What we want is informed choice, early awareness and prevention before young people become consumed by it."

This article was originally published on the College of Health Professions website.