The Rise of Sports Betting in Gen Z

By Ryan Kelley, Staff Writer

There has been a major surge in sports betting within younger generations, particularly Generation Z, as well as the younger half of Millennials. The rise of betting culture and the overall appeal to young adults has seen an increase due to its ability to be promoted at such a high volume. 

Betting sites are able to pay influencers and celebrities big money in return for promotion targeting younger audiences via commercials and social media. The multitude of betting apps that are able to be downloaded and easily accessed at any point in a person’s day is also a reason for the increase in popularity with betting apps. Popular apps like DraftKings, Fandul and BetMGM are the more known and recognizable ways to bet online. 

Sophomore fashion major Anna Bell talked about her experiences with online sports betting after getting into it because of friends around her. 

“I got into sports betting because of my friends, I only bet about five times a month and I use Underdog Sports when I bet,” she said. 

For Anna, the general rule of thumb is to stick to what you know. This means betting on only sports she understands like football and basketball. 

Criminal justice major John Graham admitted that he bets on multiple different apps, for all types of sports.  

“I will bet on anything, It’s more of a numbers game and seeing the best odds you can get.” 

For John, it does not matter if he is interested in the sport being played or the teams playing in it, rather it is about what is the best chance he has at making money. These two interviews show how diverse sports betting can be. While some people sports bet for entertainment purposes, others like to focus on the statistical aspect of sports and how the information they know about sports can make them money. 

It is no secret that betting can be very addicting, especially for young people. With a mass surge in young people engaging in sports betting, it seems like the ease of placing a bet is a normal part of the day to day routine. In the younger generations, people want to find chances to make fast and easy money. Once people figure out the ways of how to make money, they can fall into an addictive behavior because sports betting allows for quick money making opportunities. 

In spite of these problems, many are able to make responsible decisions, showing that betting can be a fun and non-harmful way to spend your money– just like expenses from shopping or going out to eat. For many, sports betting can be an enjoyable activity to take part of, as it can take a regular game and turn it into an exciting way to enjoy sports. 

While there are more common ways a person can get introduced to sports betting, everyone’s story is different. Some people may be more committed to betting than others, but the overall category of sports betting continues to grow, especially in the younger generation.