1. Start the Conversation Early

• Seeing a gambling ad on TV presents an opportunity to ask about sports betting in your child’s social circles.
• If your children game frequently, ask them about loot boxes in games they play.
• Bring it up during prevention talks about other risks like drugs, alcohol and sex. (Brodsky, 2026)
• Ask questions out of curiosity to learn what they’re hearing and seeing. Listen without interruptions and judgement.
• Don’t feel pressured to cover everything in one conversation. Keep the conversation going when you see it in the media or hear about someone else’s experience.
• Set clear expectations regarding your child’s gambling activity.

2. Create Rules for Digital Devices

• Set time limits, especially for younger kids.
• Use parental controls in games and on devices (examples: Qustodio or Mobicip) to monitor in-app purchases and disable loot box spending where possible.
• Don’t give access to any gambling apps with your accounts or your credit card. If you allow purchases, use gift cards with limits.
• Download the same games as your kids and play them for a little bit so you know if they contain gambling elements.
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• Don’t feel pressured to cover everything in one conversation. Keep the conversation going when you see it in the media or hear about someone else’s experience.
• Set clear expectations regarding your child’s gambling activity.

3. Teach Financial Responsibility

Financial confidence reduces vulnerability to risky behaviors.

• Teach them about budgeting and decision-making for spending, saving and sharing.
• Help them understand needs versus wants and delayed gratification. (Miller, 2025)
• Monitor their financial activity by looking at their bank accounts, PayPal, etc. (Esmeralda, 2026)

4. Teach How Gambling Works

If kids are aware of how gambling works and the risks involved, it introduces the less appealing side of gambling. Start with NCPG’s gambling definition: any activity where a person risks an item of value (e.g., money) on the outcome of an event determined mostly by chance, to obtain something valuable.

• Help them recognize how elements of video games and gaming apps fit into this definition.
• Explain how the house always wins. Casinos and betting apps wouldn’t be in business if they weren’t making a profit. Gamblers aren’t making sustainable profits.
• Explain odds, comparing the chances of winning the Powerball lottery (1 in 292 million) to the odds of being struck by lightning (1 in 3,000) (mcoepgp.org)
• They need to be aware that psychological principles are used to build gaming/gambling apps to keep people playing. (Esmeralda, 2026)
• Help build media literacy by critically analyzing ads and highlighting the persuasive tactics to get people to play and keep playing.
• Make them aware of gambling risks: give examples of how much people have lost and negative consequences they experienced.

5. Model Healthy Behavior

The risk of developing a gambling problem is increased if a parent gambles.

• Seeing you gamble frequently or irresponsibly can normalize gambling.
• If you gamble, don’t gamble in front of them, don’t place bets for them or boast about your wins. (Guy, 2025)
• Set an example of financial responsibility and delayed gratification.

6. Promote Healthy Alternatives

Encourage activities that provide excitement and reward without financial risk—sports, arts, volunteering, or skill-based competitions.

7. Emotional Coping Skills

As mentioned earlier, many teens get hooked on gambling because it helps them escape, stress, anxiety, boredom or depression. Teach and model healthy coping techniques like exercising, mindfulness, and connecting with friends and family to prevent unhealthy habits.