This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s summer editorial intern Jordyn Centerwall. Find her on Instagram at @jordyncenterwall. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
I’ve never been one for gambling. I’ve played the slot machines in Vegas a grand total of one time, and I only learned how to play poker this past summer. I can see the appeal to the strategy side of these games. Plus, every so often it’s fun to do some scratchers or play the lottery. But beyond that, it’s never done much for me. Last year, I was introduced to the world of sports betting at a restaurant job. Nearly all of my male coworkers from my managers to the high schoolers who bussed tables had fallen down the hole of sports betting apps. As I heard stories of how many of the teenagers willingly forked over their hard-earned wages weekly, I found myself thinking: How are they able to use these apps as minors? Are gambling apps legal? Here’s what I’ve found and why some people are rallying behind these apps.
Gambling Laws By State
I’ve lived in California my entire life so it always came as a bit of a surprise when I would land in the Las Vegas airport and see slot machines. This is a result of the regulations surrounding gambling lying in the hands of the state. Each state is free to regulate the age for types of gambling including card rooms, casinos, horseracing, lottery, and bingo. For most of these the legal age is either 18 or 21, with a few exceptions. Michigan, for example, requires those wishing to play in poker rooms to be 32 years of age.
Many of these state laws include contingencies over whether the establishments have alcohol licenses. Some alcohol-free establishments allow for 18 year olds to participate. States can also control where these establishments can exist. Only two states currently allow for state-wide casino gambling–Nevada and Louisiana. Every other state restricts casinos to property located on indigenous reservations or specific areas.
Sports Betting
Sports betting has noticed a steady uptick in recent years since the Supreme Court overturned the Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018. This act prohibited sports betting in most states. Since then, 38 states have legalized the practice. For many states, the choice has come as a result of the tax collected from these betting apps. In 2023, the tax amounted to over $500 million each in both the second and third quarters of the year. States advocating for the continued legalization argue that this income can be put toward various projects including roads, and much-needed education funding.
Some remain skeptical. One study conducted by the NCAA last April with over 3,000 18-22-year-olds found that, “71% of [their] survey respondents are too young to
gamble either at home or at school, or reside in a location where sports betting is illegal.” Of this group, 56% of those not legally able to gamble had engaged in some form of sports betting and 15 % of that group did so once a month or more.
PrizePicks, FanDuel, and More
The most popular sports betting apps currently are PrizePicks, Fanduel, and DraftKings. There are numerous other apps including Bet365 and others affiliated with major casinos like Caesar’s Palace and MGM. ESPN even rolled out its own betting platform in 2020 under the name of Barstool Sportsbook. The name has since changed to ESPN Bet. The PrizePicks app is legal in 30 states and has over 5 million members. FanDuel is legal or unregulated in 40 states and has about 4 million members. DraftKings Sportsbook is legal in 25 states. They have 2 million active monthly users and 8 million total users.
I did my own research via PrizePicks about what kind of information the apps require in order to verify that its users are of legal age. Spoiler alert: very little. Upon downloading the app, I was prompted to create a profile. They asked for my day of birth and address. The app makes it sound like they intend to verify using a drivers license, but no such thing was asked of me. The “verification” page asserts that they may ask for such proof if your account is not automatically verified. Others online hypothesize that this verification may be delayed until users try to cash out. Indeed PrizePick’s “withdrawal” page suggests that they may review and require verification for the first few withdrawals from new players.
Who Benefits?
Is this enough though? It certainly doesn’t stop underaged players from using their own money to play in the first place. If anything, it begs the question of who is in support of these apps currently even while regulations are sparse. Based on one user’s review, these apps seem to benefit both companies like PrizePicks, but also the network itself. The betting serves to build investment and encourages people who normally wouldn’t care about a certain matchup, to tune in to watch the live outcome of their individual player picks.
This commentary was echoed in the NCAA’s study where of those engaged in sports betting, 44% of the participants were “much more likely” to tune into a match if they had a bet placed. This same study found that over 36% of participants at least somewhat agreed that they could win a lot of money if they consistently bet.
The Psychology Of Gambling
According to Dr. Luke Clark from the University of Cambridge gambling presents the illusion of control. Most people have relatively healthy relationships with gambling, with the American Gaming Association estimating that this group makes up 90% of those who gamble. These are social gamblers. People who might do slots on vacation or indulge in a weekly poker match with friends, but who do not have a problem walking away from the activity. Gambling is defined as being a problem or pathological when an individual is no longer in control of their behavior surrounding gambling.
Gender and age both play a factor in gambling. The study of gambling has found that gamblers aged 18-29 have the highest risk of the habit becoming a problem. Who does it affect the most? The NCAA’s study suggested that betting was most drastic among 18-22 year olds in the South and Northeast, and within Black and Hispanic populations. Psychology Today asserts that that lower income individuals are most vulnerable, as they have the most to gain from a large payout. They also estimate that up to 5% or 1 in 20 children and young adults who gamble experience a disorder surrounding it. With the increased accessibility to gambling via mobile apps and sports betting, these numbers are expected to rise.
Professional Recommendations
Gambling is a massive US industry. It employs over a million and a half people and generates over $200 billion each year. The money generated from such an industry funds government projects that would not be possible otherwise. However, many believe that federal regulations are desperately needed in order to be able to investigate and put a stop to illegal transactions in secret betting markets. Some argue in favor of redirecting sports betting tax revenue into higher education. Others push for federal regulations to be implemented requiring the sharing of data. These suggestions seem designed to maintain the market, while allowing for age limits to be enforced. Lawmakers have begun to propose such regulations. It yet to be seen whether such measures will pass and if they do, when they would be implemented.
I understand the good that can come from sports betting and other gambling apps. But I can’t help but feel like these platforms do more harm than good. To me, it is impossible to see past how they weaponize hope and especially prey on vulnerable populations. Are gambling apps legal? Yes. But I for one wish they weren’t.
How do you feel about sports betting and other gambling apps? Let us know in the comments below!
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