More Than a Third of American Boys Gamble, New Survey Finds

^{Adolescent boys are often exposed to gambling at a young age through various sources, including traditional card games, video games, and other gambling-like activities, according to researchers at Common Sense Media. (Photo: Andrey Ugadchiko / Alamy)}

A new study from Common Sense Media found that 36% of boys aged 11 to 17 in the United States had gambled in the last year, with participation increasing steadily as boys get older.

The study, known as “Betting on Boys: Understanding Gambling Among Adolescent Boys,” surveyed 1,017 adolescent boys in the United States and found that gambling habits among the sample were heavily connected to other factors like social media, peer behavior, and video games.

Half of Older Boys Report Gambling in Past Year

In particular, researchers found that boys are often exposed to gambling or gambling-like activity long before they ever seek it out intentionally, especially through online gaming.

“Through the games they play, the social media platforms they use every day, and their friends, gambling has become a fact of many boys’ day-to-day lives,” Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer said in a statement. “Without safeguards and support, many boys may be forming risky relationships with gambling before they fully understand the consequences.”

Nearly one in eight of the boys surveyed said that they bet on sports. Nearly as many reported betting on traditional casino-style gambling, such as card games, though this activity was far more common among those aged 14 to 17. Overall, gambling also generally increased with age, with about half of respondents aged 16 or 17 saying they had gambled in the last year.

Social Media, Gaming Contribute to Gambling Exposure

Boys also reported frequently seeing gambling content on YouTube, Twitch, or other platforms. Of those respondents who said they gamble, a total of 45% of those who gamble said they saw betting odds, and nearly 60% said the content “just started showing up" in their feeds. 

Overall, 61% said they have seen gambling ads on YouTube, though most respondents said those ads didn’t get them to gamble.

But online gaming proved to be the most common way for boys to encounter gambling at an early age. The survey found that about one in four boys played game-based activities that in some way mimicked gambling, with most of them regularly spending real money on these games. 

While the study found that boys who gamble only spend an average of $54 annually, there was a stark divide between those who spend only a little and large spenders who often show signs of problem gambling. Those signs include spending more money than they planned (49%) or using parents’ credit cards without permission (21%).

The findings are similar to those found in other nations. In the UK, the 2025 Young People and Gambling Survey found that 49% of young people aged 11 to 17 reported having some experience with gambling in the last year. Loot boxes and social casino games are frequently cited as common gateways into more traditional gambling behaviors.