SAN ANTONIO – More than a third of boys between the ages of 11 and 17 gambled money in the past year, according to a new study — and experts say prediction market apps are making it easier than ever for kids to get in on the action.
Common Sense Media surveyed more than 1,000 boys across the country last year and found that 36% reported gambling in the past year. That number climbs to nearly half — 49% — among 17-year-olds.
Apps like Kalshi and Polymarket allow users to bet real money on real-world events, from sports outcomes to political elections. In Texas, traditional gambling is illegal — but these companies argue they operate under a different set of rules.
When KSAT asked Polymarket whether it was using federal regulations to sidestep Texas law, the company pushed back — saying its app is regulated by federal law, not state rules.
Both apps require users to be at least 18 years old. But Rick Edwards, inpatient program director at Clarity Child Guidance Center in San Antonio, says that barrier isn’t stopping kids.
“It’s more common than I think folks would realize,” Edwards said. “And there are folks that are willing — with the idea of a payoff for them — when that underage kid wins, for them to be able to collect some part of those winnings.”
“Some parents may not even be aware of the fact that kids have access to their own accounts and are doing that betting themselves,” he added.
The Common Sense Media study found that nearly half of boys who gamble are also seeing gambling content online. The majority — 59% — said it simply showed up in their feed. They weren’t searching for it.
Boys who regularly watch gambling content spend more than twice as much on gambling as those who don’t — an average of $72 compared to $33 per year.
Edwards says when things spiral, the fallout doesn’t stay with the kid.
“It impacts not just that individual, but oftentimes they’ll go to the adult, the parent in the family to say, ‘Hey, your son or daughter here has been betting and now they’re in debt to me,’” Edwards said. “So now it becomes not just a child’s problem, but a family’s problem.”
He also pointed to a startling statistic — gambling addiction carries a higher rate of suicide than other substance-related addictions.
Edwards says there are warning signs parents can look out for, including a sudden obsession with sports statistics, withdrawing from family activities, and excessive time spent on a phone or device.
Fewer than half of boys surveyed — 45% — said their families have any rules about gambling at home.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the national gambling helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER. Additional resources are available at the link here.
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