The Alarming Rise of Teenage Sports Gambling in Australia – and What It Means for the U.S.

• In Australia, up to 600,000 teenagers are gambling, and experts say it’s no accident.
• A new report reveals that sports betting is now more popular among Aussie teens than playing sports themselves.
• U.S. youth are being exposed to the same mix of gambling ads, sports tie-ins, and digital access fueling Australia’s crisis.
• Without action, America could be next in line for a full-blown teen gambling epidemic

MELBOURNE – In Australia, the numbers are staggering: up to 600,000 teenagers under the age of 18 are gambling, and nearly $18.4 million is being wagered by minors annually—$1.8 million of that on sports betting alone.

What’s even more alarming is that these figures might be just the tip of the iceberg. A new report by the Australia Institute paints a chilling picture: one in three kids aged 12–17 gambles, and sports betting is quickly becoming the go-to choice, even more popular than playing the sports themselves.

Once they hit the minimum age to bet on sports, those habits intensify. Almost half of 18- to 19-year-olds gamble, with legal sports betting alone raking in over $33 million annually from that group.

The question for Americans: Could this be a glimpse into our own future? Or worse—our present?

The Blueprint for a Crisis

Australia’s story reads like a warning. Experts there are calling it deliberate: a grooming strategy by the gambling industry, with social media ads and nonstop sports tie-ins blurring the lines between fandom and financial risk. Kids are being raised in a digital playground where every goal, touchdown, or buzzer-beater is also a betting opportunity.

Martin Thomas of the Alliance for Gambling Reform didn’t mince words:

“It is both alarming and tragic to understand that the number of teenagers gambling under the legal age would fill the MCG [Melbourne Cricket Ground] six times over.”

And according to teachers on the front lines, underage betting isn’t just happening—it’s normalized.

“This generation of teenagers know sport and gambling as being interconnected,” says Matthew Sekfy, co-founder of Gambling Education Australia. “They have no experience of one without the other.”

Sound Familiar, America?

The U.S. legalized sports betting in 2018, and in the years since, it has exploded. According to compiled reports from state gaming commissions, the total amount of money bet on sports in the US is approaching half a trillion dollars since May 2018.

And while the U.S. doesn’t yet have comprehensive national data on underage betting, early signs mirror Australia’s trajectory:

• Teens and young adults are seeing sports betting ads throughout various channels daily whether sports broadcasts or social media.
• Fantasy sports and free-to-play “social casinos” are acting as gateways for real-money gambling.
• Gambling is no longer hidden, and it’s now a cultural pillar in the modern sports experience.

In a digital landscape where identity checks can be bypassed and advertisements are algorithmically personalized, legal online sportsbooks are letting teens slip through the cracks.

What’s at Stake?

Australia’s findings show that early gambling behavior often persists into adulthood, with average annual losses climbing sharply after age 18. The earlier people started betting on sports in Australia, the more likely they are to struggle with gambling problems later in life.

If the U.S. fails to pay attention, we may soon be facing our own youth gambling crisis – one that’s already quietly gaining ground.

Australia is now seriously considering the Murphy Inquiry’s 31 recommendations, including a total ban on gambling ads phased in over three years. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers have barely begun to address the issue at all.

In short, we can either learn from Australia’s data or ignore it until it’s too late.

News tags: Alliance for Gambling Reform | America | Australia | Australia Institute | Gambling Education Australia | Martin Thomas | Matthew Sekfy | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Murphy Inquiry | U.S.