Despite its risks, sports betting is popular among high schoolers. Senior Sean Scudder shared his experience gambling, while Mr. Milner shared his concerns about sports betting and its potential dangers.
“I would say I’ve lost like $30. I gained like $70, but then I lost it all after redistributing it,” Scudder said. He started betting after seeing his friends win money. “My friends inspired me to start gambling. They started winning money, I got a referral code and 20 free dollars, that was sweet. I wouldn’t say I was peer-pressured, but I’m a product of my environment.” said Scudder.
Scudder started with parlays but switched to daily fantasy after losing too much.
“I just look at what looks good, and then I parlay. Then I quit parlays because I kept losing money. I started playing daily fantasy because I had ball knowledge in fantasy, and I won like $70, then I lost it all in one weekend,” he said.
One of the hardest parts, Scudder retold, was the emotional rollercoaster of wins and losses.
“I think I won $40 one weekend, and I felt pretty good, but I was like, ‘There’s more to win. I gotta put more up.’ The very next weekend, I lost all my money. You feel good, and then I don’t really have $40, I didn’t earn this. I only really put up $20. I might as well roll it and get more.”
Scudder believes that sports gambling can be an addiction.
“Yes, but not for me, because I know when to stop, and I don’t put more money in.” He didn’t hesitate to call it gambling. “Yes, because you’re putting money up, and you can win more, but you’re not really supposed to.”
Milner believes that high schoolers gambling is a serious issue.
“I think that they’re breaking the law. I think there should be stronger regulations on the companies that are facilitating these bets to prove and verify that the people placing bets, and putting money into the account is someone who is actually old enough to make that decision”
Though he hasn’t witnessed it firsthand in his classroom, Milner has heard students talk about gambling.
“I’ve heard kids talk about it, I can’t say I’ve seen someone do it in class. I’ve had kids ask me what they thought about a bet that they were considering or claimed to have made”
He also sees the risk of addiction in betting.
“There’s a reason every gambling ad includes a phone number or website for help. It’s another reason teenagers shouldn’t be doing it.” said Milner.
LJ • Feb 16, 2025 at 6:43 pm
I think its becoming a big problem among teenagers. I say this because when students bet they usually don’t think about the consequences or possible negative outcomes that come with it. For example, You could potentially bet money you don’t have because you were overconfident and then lose (this goes for betting on an app or in person), now you don’t have the money to pay what you owe. Also you could lose money being greedy, when you could’ve saved for something else that could actually benefit you in the future even if its a small step towards what you could save for and etc. Obviously sometimes there are things we cant avoid in life and gambling is one of them, whether if we just want to live a little or if we were peer pressured, but as teenagers I think we should put betting/gambling on hold.
Christopher Hernandez • Feb 3, 2025 at 6:53 pm
I believe that teenage gambling is a very serious issue because it can not only lead you to have depression and increased anxiety, it can be a gateway to drugs, alcohol, nicotine, and even crime, especially to gain instant money instead of going straight to the workforce or going to study in a college or university and working a job just so you can work a higher paying career in the future with that higher education, but with a higher risk of getting caught and arrested for crimes. It especially impacts juniors and seniors the most because they are the grade levels that need to really focus on getting strong grades, taking harder classes if possible, and having enough money to afford to go to a college or university paid with a full tuition payment, student loan payment, or even a scholarship as managing your money is even more important than ever. Since I’m a junior myself, I plan on taking either AP or Honors Personal Finance in my senior year, which I hope to learn a lot about what’s in the curriculum to further prepare myself to go to college or university if I wanted to go there, including living on-campus; live on my own and work a job; live on my own, get a job, and even start a family if I wanted to; or still live with my parents and work a job.
Zachary Farrior • Feb 3, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Sports betting has become a growing concern in clover hill highschool. Students have been losing money and gaining money. A student said they lost $30, gained $70, and lost it all later on. Another student says that they made $40 one weekend and then lost it the very next weekend. This is why I think sports betting is bad for children or for people in general.
Tim • Jan 31, 2025 at 10:35 am
I don’t think sports betting is a good idea for people our age. We’re still figuring out how to make good decisions, and gambling can mess with that. It’s easy to get addicted, and it could take our focus away from school and other important things. Plus, if we lose money, it could cause a lot of stress or even lead to bigger problems down the road. Instead of betting, we should be putting our energy into things that help us grow, like sports, hobbies, or just having fun with friends. Sports are supposed to be about enjoying the game, not risking money on it.
Brianna Holland • Jan 31, 2025 at 10:31 am
The article provides an insightful look into the growing trend of sports betting among high schoolers, highlighting both personal experiences and expert concerns. Through the perspective of senior Sean Scudder, readers get a firsthand account of how easy it is for teenagers to engage in gambling, often starting with free incentives and the influence of peers. His story captures the highs and lows of sports betting, from winning $70 to losing it all, as well as the emotional toll that comes with chasing bigger payouts. On the other hand, Mr. Milner provides a much-needed authoritative voice on the issue, emphasizing the legality and potential dangers of teenage sports gambling. His concerns about addiction, lack of regulation, and the deceptive appeal of betting apps reinforce the risks that many young people may overlook. His point about gambling hotlines being required in advertisements serves as a crucial reminder that betting companies are well aware of the dangers they present. Overall, the article does a strong job of balancing both perspectives—offering a candid look at why high schoolers are drawn to sports betting while also presenting the ethical and legal implications. It successfully raises awareness of a growing issue and leaves readers questioning whether stricter regulations or better education on gambling risks are needed to protect teenagers.
Lucas • Jan 31, 2025 at 9:06 am
I agree that teenage gambling is a problem that should be addressed. My friend has done this and his parents just let him do it. I disagree with Scudder when they claimed to know when to stop. If you knew when to stop why would you still gamble? Gambling is always a disadvantage for people gambling. Deluding yourself that you are better than other people only makes you more vulnerable. Yet I know I should not fault a person. Gambling apps should have more stringent checks. With teenagers, gambling should not be popular. Teenagers are prone to anxiety already; we don’t need gambling to increase that.
Cris • Jan 30, 2025 at 9:19 am
I agree that teenage gambling is very serious.I who also participated in sport betting before know that it can be quite addictive especially if you are on a winning streak.But teenage gambling is not healthy and I would not recommend it to anybody. Gambling can start addictions that can harm students later in life. Students should not be gambling it is harmful to them because it can cause stress,anxiety,and depression and should not be introduced to anybody especially teens.
Luke Murrell • Jan 30, 2025 at 9:18 am
I don´t really think I would be too worried about this subject overall. I do think that phones are distracting people and are more distracted with their phones out. I know that some people need them sometimes in case of emergency. I think that overall people will be more productive without their phones out all the time. I know it might be controversial but when something like this gets banned it´s because someone from a group of people is trying to send a message to everyone about something.