“There’s no chance I’m letting you do something that will destroy your life. Just because everyone’s doing it,’ doesn’t make it right.”

When Victoria from Texas called The Ramsey Show recently, she wasn’t asking about budgeting or student loans; she wanted advice on her 14-year-old son, who was begging to use his own money for online gambling. “

Everyone at school is doing it,” he told her.

Financial expert Dave Ramsey’s response was blunt:

“The second fastest-growing addiction in America is online gambling. I’ve seen 32-year-olds lose $600,000, their marriages, their families, because they couldn’t stop.”

While that call came from the U.S., the concern hits close to home for Canadians, too.

Youth Gambling on the Rise in Canada

A 2023 survey by B.C.’s McCreary Centre Society found that 21% of youth aged 12 to 18 reported gambling in some form. Nationally, the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) found that 64.5% of Canadians aged 15 and older had gambled in the previous year. Of those, about 290,000 (1.6%) were at moderate-to-severe risk of developing a gambling addiction.

Experts say this risk stems from a mix of easy access, tech familiarity, and poor financial literacy.

“Teens are more comfortable using apps and less aware of the risks of debt,” explains Stephen Shapiro, director of the University of South Carolina’s sports and entertainment marketing program.

What used to be small wagers among friends has now shifted online, where it’s constant, accessible, and often disguised as entertainment.

“I Had No Concept of Money”

For Jordan, now 20, gambling started as a game.

“It began with lunch money bets,” he says. “I was trying to score a quick buck. I had no concept of money and gambled recklessly.”

By the time he sought help, he had lost about $60,000.

“I kept going deeper and deeper. The more I lost, the more I gambled to win it all back,” he says.

Jordan joined Gamblers Anonymous after realizing how much damage his addiction caused, not just financially, but emotionally. “It can destroy you,” he says. “It can make you an ugly person and a liar.”

Because of the stigma surrounding gambling addiction, CTV News agreed to conceal his identity. But Jordan’s story reflects what many experts now warn is an emerging crisis among youth.

Advertising and Accessibility: A Dangerous Mix

Earlier this week, the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) published an editorial calling for restrictions on sports betting advertisements, which it says are targeting young audiences.

“Ads for sports betting have saturated sports broadcasts, constantly viewed by children,” wrote Dr. Shannon Charlebois. “Gambling is being normalized as a natural part of spectatorship at a young age.”

The editorial notes that since Ontario legalized online gambling in 2022, every smartphone has effectively become a betting platform, putting gambling access right in teenagers’ pockets.

Jordan, who never gambled online but through bookies, says the accessibility today worries him.

“You can gamble at home, at school, at work, anywhere,” he says. “It should not be this easy.”

Even though betting sites are supposed to be restricted to users over 19, Jordan says teens can find ways around it.

The Long Road to Recovery

Jordan says he’s been sober from gambling for two years but admits recovery is lifelong.

“With technology now, it’s only going to be more advertised and thrown in everyone’s faces,” he says. “I still have a lifetime to go in recovery.”

As gambling becomes more integrated into sports culture and digital life, experts are urging both parents and policymakers to take action before small bets turn into lifelong losses.

Education Over Restriction

“There’s a lot of regulation around advertising,” said Paul Burns, president and CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), in an interview with CBC News on Monday.

According to Burns, the CGA has been monitoring industry data and found that online gambling ads make up only about two per cent of all television ads and roughly five per cent of total TV ad spending.

“Even during last year’s NHL playoffs, no gambling company ranked among the top 10 advertisers,” he noted, adding that betting ads on NHL broadcasts have actually declined, from six per cent two years ago to four per cent last year.

While Burns emphasizes education and awareness over stricter advertising limits, these figures largely reflect legacy television advertising and don’t capture where younger audiences actually spend their time. Exposure increasingly happens across streaming platforms, social media feeds, gaming environments, and algorithm-driven spaces such as YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Instagram, Facebook, Roblox, Minecraft, and even “free-to-play” mobile games, channels where gambling-style mechanics and promotions can appear more subtly and frequently than traditional TV ads.

How to Talk About Gambling With Your Kids

With online games, social media, and sports betting ads everywhere, kids are being exposed to gambling concepts earlier than ever, often without realizing it. Talking about gambling might feel awkward, but starting the conversation early can make a big difference.

Parents don’t need to panic or lecture; the goal is to open a dialogue. Help your kids understand what gambling really is, how odds work, and why it can become risky when it stops being “just for fun.”

Here’s how to make your message stick:

  • Start early and keep it age-appropriate.
  • Explain how in-game “loot boxes” or betting apps mirror real gambling mechanics.
  • Ask open-ended questions like, “What games are you playing?” or “What do you think makes betting exciting for people?”
  • Keep talking, one honest conversation is better than silence.
  • Because when kids understand the risks, they’re better prepared to make responsible choices later on.

Watch for warning signs.

Sudden mood changes, secretive online behaviour, or missing money can all signal a problem. Regular tech check-ins can catch issues early.

Know where to turn for help.

If you suspect your child is struggling, reach out early. Services like Kids Help Phone, Wellness Together Canada, and your local CMHA branch offer free, confidential support.

There’s no quick fix for youth gambling, but open conversations and awareness can make all the difference. With the right guidance, families like Victoria’s can help their kids build healthier relationships with money and with themselves.