He got hooked on betting at age 11. By college he gambled 15 hours a day.
Teenage Gamblers: A New Generation of Addictions
HUNTING VALLEY, Ohio — Saul Malek has become a symbol of the dangers lurking in modern technology, warning young people about the rise of online gambling. At 28, he now visits schools to share his story, illustrating how a simple $10 wager on a baseball game in his teenage years escalated into a damaging habit. By the age of 21, the debt had reached $25,000, and he was on the brink of despair. “You don’t even realize that what you’re doing is harming you as it’s happening,” Malek told a group of high school students, a sentiment he later echoed with younger pupils.
The Allure of Easy Bets
Today’s students are no strangers to the ease of betting. Whether it’s on individual plays, international events, or even minor mishaps at award shows, the apps have made gambling a seamless part of daily life. This trend extends beyond the students—many parents have noticed the shift as well. “Drugs, alcohol, and gambling are the three big things parents might freak out about,” said Henry Brown, a senior at University School. “Gambling is the most common, though.”
During a class session, the topic of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ performance naturally led to discussions about betting on James Harden’s rebounds. Even when a teacher played Olympic men’s hockey, a student lamented missing out on a bet. Gavin Owens, another student, described how some classmates can’t stop gambling. “They’re addicted — they’re not present when I’m around them,” he said. “Their mind’s in another place, probably on the spreads.”
From Video Games to Cryptocurrency
Kurt Freudenberg’s journey began at 11, when he started trading virtual “skins” in video games for digital currency. This allowed him to place bets on online blackjack and roulette, with thousands wagered daily. “It felt like a high, an extreme rush,” Freudenberg, now 23, recalled. “Nothing compared to that high on gambling.” His habit expanded to sports betting on NBA and NFL games, and he even dabbled in cryptocurrency-based offshore casinos, winning up to $5,000 in a single bet.
Freudenberg’s parents remained unaware until he entered college, where his gambling obsession reached its peak. He spent 15 hours a day on betting apps, neglecting basic routines like showering or attending class. “We thought he was gonna say it was drugs,” his mother, Kim Freudenberg, said. “But he said, ‘I’m gambling.’”
Shifting Patterns in Gambling Addiction
Across the U.S., clinics and support groups are seeing more teenage boys and young men seeking help. Elizabeth Thielen, senior director at Nicasa Behavi, noted a clear trend: “When I started, most clients were in their 40s, 50s, or 60s. Now, it’s just gotten really young.”
National data on youth gambling addiction remains sparse, but smaller surveys suggest the issue is growing. A recent Common Sense Media study found that one-third of boys aged 11 to 17 gambled within the past year, including sports bets, lottery games, and peer-driven poker. In Massachusetts, 10% of young gamblers faced problematic behavior that impacted their lives, families, or education.
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