Gambling Behavior in Young Adults

December 16, 2025

For many years, most of the clients I saw as a psychologist who struggled with gambling were middle-aged or older adults. They were people who had spent years — sometimes decades — caught in the cycle of gambling, and eventually reached a point where there was nowhere left to turn but therapy or treatment.

But in more recent years, I began to notice something different. Young adults — especially young men — started coming into the clinic more frequently. The shift was unmistakable. The landscape of gambling has been changing, and so has the age of those being affected.

Gambling has become more accessible, more normalized, and more digitally integrated than ever before. What once required a trip to a casino can now happen in seconds on a phone. For many young people, gambling doesn’t look like a dangerous vice — it looks like part of everyday life.

Why Young Adults Are at Higher Risk

Young adults are especially vulnerable to developing gambling problems for several reasons:

The developing brain: Impulse control and long-term decision-making are still maturing through the mid-20s.

Digital accessibility: Sports betting apps, online casinos, and even video games with gambling-like features are available 24/7.

Social normalization: Gambling is often presented as harmless fun, tied to sports, competition, or social connection.

Peer influence: Friends encourage bets or share winnings online, reinforcing gambling as part of social identity.

The shift I’ve seen among younger clients reflects this new reality. Gambling isn’t hidden in smoky rooms anymore — it’s on every screen, woven into entertainment, and marketed as skill-based rather than risky.

How Gambling Starts for Many Young People

For young adults, gambling often begins innocently:

Sports betting on favorite teams.

Casino-style gaming apps that mimic gambling but use virtual credits.

Online games with loot boxes or in-app purchases, which teach reward-seeking behavior early.

Social gambling among friends, where small bets feel harmless.

The combination of accessibility and normalization means gambling can quickly shift from entertainment to compulsion without anyone realizing it’s happening.

Warning Signs in Young Adults

Recognizing early warning signs is key. Common indicators include:

Chasing wins or losses.

Spending increasing amounts of time or money gambling.

Hiding activity or lying about bets.

Borrowing money or using credit cards for gambling.

Changes in mood, irritability, or anxiety.

Decline in academic or work performance.

Because gambling often takes place privately on phones, loved ones may not notice these signs until the problem has escalated.

The Long-Term Impact of Early Gambling

Gambling during young adulthood can have long-lasting consequences:

Financial instability: Debt and poor credit early in life.

Emotional distress: Guilt, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem.

Relationship strain: Erosion of trust among family and friends.

Addiction progression: Early exposure increases the risk of chronic gambling issues later on.

The patterns formed in these years can shape how someone manages risk, reward, and emotion for the rest of their life.

How to Support Young Adults at Risk

Young people benefit most from early, open, and judgment-free conversations. Strategies that help include:

Talking openly about gambling as a mental health concern, not a moral failure.

Encouraging reflection on motivations — is it boredom, stress, or social pressure?

Setting boundaries around betting apps, online games, and exposure to gambling media.

Seeking professional or peer support when gambling starts affecting finances or emotions.

Early intervention is crucial. The earlier the awareness, the easier it is to redirect habits before they become entrenched.

A Changing Generation

The rise in gambling among young adults reflects a broader shift in our digital culture. For older generations, gambling was an occasional activity. For younger ones, it’s integrated into daily life — accessible, marketed, and gamified.

At Incumental, we recognize this shift and are creating support that meets young adults where they already are — on their devices. Our guided, private sessions are designed to help users understand their behaviors, strengthen self-awareness, and develop healthier habits before the problem takes over.

Because prevention and early support are just as important as treatment — and the next generation deserves both.

By Michael Zhang,PHD

References

National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). “Gambling & Campus Health.” CollegeGambling.org.

URL: https://www.collegegambling.org/cg-information/gambling-campus-health

Kapukotuwa, S. et al. (2023). “Examining the Gambling Behavior of University Students.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10419051/

Potenza, M. N. (2024). “Online Gambling in Youth.” In: Gambling and Gambling Disorders in the Digital Age. Springer.

URL: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-69362-5_81

Riley, B. J. et al. (2021). “Attitudes, Risk Factors, and Behaviours of Gambling Among Adolescents and Young Adults.” Current Addiction Reports.

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7908209/

Petry, N. M. & Weinstock, J. (2007). “Internet Gambling Is Common in College Students and Associated with Poor Mental Health.” Journal of Gambling Studies.
URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5959766