EndGame: Rutgers Examines Young Gambling

The U.S. sports betting world moves quickly and unpredictably in 2026. In order to properly take stock of it all, we offer InGame’s “EndGame,” an end-of-week compilation of the top storylines, some overlooked items, and all the other news bits from this past week that we found interesting.

Survey: Problem gambling grows among teens

Teenagers who might in the past have been expected to focus on playing sports are increasingly spending their time betting on them or doing other gambling. That was one takeaway from a recent national survey conducted by the Center For Gambling Studies at the Rutgers School of Social Work.

The survey of 1,677 Americans from ages 13-27 found that 52.5% of them had gambled in the past year, including 42.7% of those under age 18. The survey covered 21 different kinds of gambling activity, and it deemed 5.4% of the respondents to be high-risk problem gamblers, including 11% of those ages 13-17.

“We are living in a time where anyone can have a casino or sportsbook in their pocket,” said Lia Nower, the center director who led the study. “Now teens who should be playing sports are betting on them, often with family members.”

On the latter point, 41.1% of those surveyed reported that a family or household member gambled, and the respondents who said so were considered four to five times more likely to be at high risk of problem gambling.

The study pointed to the need for greater prevention education about gambling starting in middle school and recommended a federal agency be created to set standards and work on mitigating harm.

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A major new study from the #RutgersSSW Center for Gambling Studies, led by Drs. Lia Nower and Jackie Stanmyre, is advancing critical research to better understand gambling behaviors and their impacts. https://t.co/eObnw1svwM pic.twitter.com/G5sBSshoSP
— Rutgers University School of Social Work (@RutgersSSW) October 28, 2026

Louisianans sue major sportsbooks

Three Louisiana residents last week sued DraftKings and FanDuel in state court alleging that the companies use targeted data to “find the people most vulnerable to gambling,” WWL-4 reported Wednesday.

The lawsuit was brought by one man who says he had to take out a loan to cover debt, a woman who claims she is regularly able to exceed the $200 limit she set for herself, and a woman who says she has bet a combined $69,000 on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Per the complaint, the companies “(a) identify those who they can hook; (b) hook them; and then (c) keep them betting.” The complaint was filed as a class action, and additional plaintiffs could be added.

— Jill R. Dorson

Two key tribal groups in alignment

A task force representing the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) and National Congress of American Indians last week “advanced its framework for sustained national coordination” to defend Indian sovereignty, protect tribal government gaming, and continue the battle against illegal online gambling and prediction markets. Both groups oppose any gambling or gambling-like products that “circumvent” state or tribal sovereignty.

“Our responsibility is to protect the right of Tribal Nations to govern our lands, regulate gaming, and build a future for our people,” said IGA Chairman David Z. Bean via press release. “This Task Force brings our leadership and our expertise together so we can turn shared concerns into coordinated action.”

The IGA has already partnered with the American Gaming Association in the fight to keep sports event contracts offered by prediction markets out of state and tribal borders. Tribal groups say the prediction markets violate their sovereignty by offering products that are indiscernible from legal sports betting, but that are not subject to the same regulation.

— Jill R. Dorson

Kalshi king of the apps?

Jordan Bender, an analyst for Citizens, shared a note Tuesday reporting that Kalshi led all app downloads for Week 7 of the NFL season. Per the data shared, the Kalshi app was downloaded 626,000 times as compared to 267,000 times for the DraftKings app, 173,000 for the PrizePicks app, 172,000 for the FanDuel app, and 132,000 for the Polymarket app.

Polymarket’s downloads were up 543% from the preceding week and Kalshi’s were up 351%. FanDuel’s downloads were down 33% while DraftKings’ were up 31% and PrizePicks’ were up 46%.

The analysis from Bender’s group expected the Kalshi and Polymarket growth to continue with the approach of the midterm elections. The note stated that because traditional sports betting companies continue to move toward “all-in-one” apps, it is becoming increasingly difficult to parse where players are placing sports bets or trades.

— Jill R. Dorson

Odds and ends

Charles H. Jeffers II, who has headed a consulting group specializing in assisting organizations with leadership and strategic issues, has been named interim executive director of the National Council on Problem Gambling. The founder of The Jeffers Group fills the position left by Heather Maurer, who resigned in the wake of controversy and membership departures from the national advocacy organization following its embrace of Kalshi as a financial contributor and partner.
Amid reports that former NBA player Malik Beasley will change his plea to guilty in a federal sports betting case, his court hearing has been set for 2:30 p.m. Dec. 9 in the Eastern District for New York. Beasley is accused of manipulating his performance to benefit bettors in several games playing for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023-24 season. He was one of six people indicted in a scheme in June.
The first three months of regulated online gambling in Alberta amounted to $122.2 million (Canadian dollars) in revenue, from about 388,000 player accounts, according to the first financial report from the Alberta iGaming Corporation. The report said that about 75% of revenue came from online casinos, dwarfing the amount from newly legal sports betting in the province.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has been forced by the NFL to divest his financial interest in Polymarket, Front Office Sports reported. The league prohibits players from investing in or endorsing gambling companies or prediction market operators.