A new coalition in Massachusetts aims to educate young people on the dangers of gambling. The Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition is made up of the Attorney General’s Office, Massachusetts Council on Gaming & Health, Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Civic Action Project, the NCAA, and the state’s five professional sports teams.
make people more aware of the laws and risks associated with gambling
The goal behind the newly formed initiative is to make people more aware of the laws and risks associated with gambling. It plans to put together a curriculum for middle school, high school, and college students, working alongside operators and sports media to do so.
Some of the research from the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health shows that teenagers who engage in gambling have a higher chance of becoming dependent on drugs and alcohol, as well as being more susceptible to suffering from depression.
Showcasing the prevalence of gambling among younger people, an NCAA study found that 58% of people between 18 and 22 years old have placed a sports bet of some kind.
Speaking about the new coalition, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said that easy access to sports betting means that it is important to “raise awareness of the public health risks associated with this activity.”