Sports betting is a phenomenon that is not completely new but as of recently has been used a lot more by young adults and even teenagers. People can practically bet on anything today through apps like PolyMarket; however, the most popular form of betting is on sports. Football, basketball, and soccer are some of the most popular to bet on. FanDuel and Draftkings are the leading apps to use; they are constantly being promoted through advertisements on TV and social media platforms. Skyline students have not shied away from this fad, with big wins and losses.
Betting has become so common for young people, because it’s intriguing to bet low amounts of money and possibly win big. A student from Skyline High School, who asked to stay anonymous, claims, “I just turned eighteen and thought it would be a fun thing to try.” This is the case for many people who are turning eighteen; however, it is possible to bet under eighteen if you simply get certain parental information, the student claims. “All our friends talked about it… It was something we were all gonna do when we turned eighteen,” the Skyline student said. There seems to be a thrill in being able to spend money without doing anything more than clicking a few buttons for who will win in a game, or score a certain amount of points, and then making a profit.
The thrill of winning is very addicting, like winning in a casino. “I spent twenty and have made one-hundred-sixty dollar profit.” The anonymous source claims big payouts make betting feel exciting and rewarding; however, the big downside is the risk of losing money. Junior Marcus Davis-Condie, for example, claims to have lost three hundred to four hundred dollars on one bet alone. For this reason Senior Sam Simos says “I would never promote it because of its dangerous nature. Some people can definitely get addicted to it easily.”
Even eighteen years old is seen as too young for some people, such as senior Derryck Zitting, who believes nobody under 21 should be allowed to bet. It is risky in nature, and access to it right after becoming a legal adult may seem reckless. Zitting said he worries about a close friend risking their financial stability through sports betting, showing how the issue may affect personal relationships.
As sports betting grows, it has been pushed through media and advertisements, exposing viewers to constant promotion. One anonymous student said, “I don’t really care about the ads, because they are usually promoting money to join.” In contrast, Zitting criticized the advertisement, stating, “I think some of they are stupid.”
