"No longer is gambling confined to Las Vegas casinos. A 2018 landmark ruling by the Supreme Court allowed states to legalize sports betting, opening the doors to new types of online gambling and games of chance. 'Young boys are largely being pulled into this universe online by algorithmically sent messages,' said Steyer of online games that include chances to open loot boxes and 'win' a prize. 'It seems so innocent, but in fact, it's no different than going into a casino and putting down five or $20 on a hand of blackjack.'"
"Steyer thinks there are several potential solutions to the issue. 'There needs to be age verification on all the social media platforms,' he said. 'Second, there have to be clear advertising restrictions.' Families trying to watch televised sporting events shouldn't be bombarded with commercials for gambling apps. NBC News reached out to gambling platforms. DraftKings says they use 'advanced technology' to 'verify the age' of customers."
More than one-third of boys aged 11–17 reported gambling in the past year. Sixty percent of 11–17 year olds reported seeing gambling advertisements on YouTube and social media feeds. The legal gambling age in the U.S. is 18, yet teenagers can circumvent age requirements to access betting platforms. The 2018 Supreme Court ruling enabled states to legalize sports betting, expanding online gambling and chance-based games. Algorithmic targeting and loot-box-style mechanics normalize gambling-like behavior for youths. Proposed mitigations include robust age verification on social platforms and clear advertising restrictions around televised sports and feeds.
Read at TODAY.com
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