RG Campaign in Pennsylvania Targets Underage Gambling as March Madness Tips Off
Timed to Problem Gambling Awareness Month and the start of the NCAA basketball tournaments, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board kicks off a new responsible gambling campaign largely focused on underage gambling.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s (PGCB) new ad campaign takes aim at the “growing issue of young people engaging in gambling activities,” according to the press release announcing the initiative.
The “What’s Really at Stake” campaign combines social media, online advertising, promotional materials, and a dedicated website (WhatsReallyatStake.com) to increase awareness of the issue.
The campaign kick-off coincides with national Problem Gambling Awareness Month (PGAM) and the start of March Madness — one of the largest annual wagering events in the US. All materials are available for free download by individuals, educational institutions, or counselors in the website’s resource section.
With the announcement, PGCB executive director Kevin O’Toole said the agency’s chief mission is to protect the public.
However, while ensuring legalized gaming is fair for those of age, this mission also targets young people, he added. Beyond the young people at risk of negative effects, the campaign also addresses family members and educators.
O’Toole cited the “proliferation” of illegal and unregulated sites as a primary reason for the effort.
He says in the release:
The legalized gambling the PGCB regulates, and in particular online gambling, is intended for those 21 years and older. The licensed operators in Pennsylvania have various tools within their systems to deny gambling privileges to those underage, but the proliferation of easily accessible illegal and unregulated sites that do not carry those protections to block underagers is a substantial reason in creating this negative situation.”
Research Highlights Growing Youth Problem
With the announcement, the PGCB highlighted the results of several recent studies:
According to CollegeGambling.org, 75% of U.S. college students gambled in the past year (legally or illegally). Of those, 18% gambled weekly or more frequently, and only 22% of US colleges and universities have formal gambling policies.
Further, per a 2023 NCAA report, 58% of 18–22-year-olds (including college students) engaged in sports betting. Of those, 6% reported losing more than $500 in a single day. Additionally, just 14% of men and 16% of women said they know where to seek help.
Digging deeper, AddictionCenter.com found that 6% of college students meet criteria for a serious gambling problem—nearly double the risk for US adults (3%). Likewise, research conducted by Mass.gov found that over the course of a year, 33.7% of youth under 18 gambled.
Finally, PGCB cited results from a recent Common Sense Media study showing that more than 1 in 3 boys (11-17) gambled in the past year, as Gambling Insider reported in February.
Josh Ercole, executive director of Pennsylvania’s Council on Compulsive Gambling (CCGPA), said the increased availability of unregulated online gambling is affecting youth. As a result, he said more young people are reaching out for assistance via 1-800-GAMBLER.
“In recent years, calls to the helpline regarding young individuals in Pennsylvania have increased. With so much access and availability, especially in unregulated forms of gambling, it is critical to have open discussions about risks and potential harms. It is also important to understand that while underage individuals playing games like these may seem innocent, early exposure and participation can lead to future problems.”
Pennsylvania Takes Multi-Pronged RG Approach
Complementing the What’s Really at Stake campaign, PGCB noted that additional problem gambling assistance is accessible on its dedicated responsible gaming-focused website, ResponsiblePlay.pa.gov.
This latest campaign follows a recent expansion of resources to help parents and educators protect kids from the risks associated with sports, online, and other forms of gambling. Developed and curated by the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the materials are available online through the Department of Education.
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