Local coalition and pediatrician warn sports-betting apps pose risks for teens

Emily Tylik, substance use prevention coordinator for the Encompass Coalition, and Dr. Safdar Medina, a pediatrician at Tri River Health Center and assistant professor of pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School, spoke Feb. 3 about growing risks that online sports betting poses for adolescents.

Tylik opened by citing local survey data: the MetroWest adolescent health survey at Algonquin Regional High School (2023) showed that 13 percent of male students reported betting on real sports events through online gambling. "We're here today to talk about sports betting and the commonalities it might have with substance use, specifically in adolescence," she said.

Dr. Medina defined sports betting as wagering money or something of value on the outcome of sporting events or specific in-game events, such as point spreads or how many goals a player will score. He said adolescents are especially vulnerable because "their prefrontal cortex is still developing, so they don't have the same impulse control that adults have, and they seek instant gratification."

Explaining recent changes in the industry, Dr. Medina said betting has shifted to mobile apps that allow real-time, in-game wagers and present hundreds of opportunities to gamble during a single game. He added that apps often use incentives and marketing that appeal to young people — "sign-up" bonuses, risk-free initial bets and celebrity endorsements — which can make gambling more enticing for adolescents.

Dr. Medina drew parallels between gambling and substance use, saying both activate dopamine reward pathways and can produce cue-triggered cravings, withdrawal-like irritability or sadness, and relapse. "When a teenager starts sports gambling, they activate their dopamine reward pathway just as alcohol, nicotine, or cannabis will do," he said.

On mental-health impacts, Dr. Medina advised parents to watch for signs such as increased isolation or time spent alone, declining grades or school absence, depression or anxiety and, in more severe cases, suicidal ideation. He warned that long-term gambling losses can lead to debt and, in some cases, theft or illegal activity to fund gambling.

With the Super Bowl approaching, Tylik and Dr. Medina urged parents to use major sporting events as conversation starters. Dr. Medina recommended talking about ads when they appear, avoiding use of betting apps in front of children, steering clear of involving minors in betting pools and educating teens about probability and the economics of gambling: "the house always wins." He also suggested parents become familiar with apps and the social-media influencers that promote them.

For families seeking help, Dr. Medina recommended starting with a child's primary care provider for confidential assessment and referrals and consulting mental-health professionals for behavioral interventions. Tylik said Encompass posts resources on its website and will share contact information in the session description.

The session emphasized prevention and community resources rather than policy action. The MetroWest survey data and additional community outreach were described as ongoing work.

The conversation took place Feb. 3, 2026.