The newly formed Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition in Massachusetts plans to raise awareness of gambling risks. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
A new coalition in Massachusetts wants to educate young people about the dangers of gambling. The Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition consists of the Attorney General’s Office, the Massachusetts Council on Gaming & Health, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, the Civic Action Project, the NCAA and the state’s five professional sports teams.
Raise people’s awareness of the laws and risks associated with gambling
The aim of the newly founded initiative is to make people more aware of the laws and risks of gambling. The plan is to create a curriculum for middle school, high school and college students, working with operators and sports media.
Some research from the Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health shows that teens who gamble have a higher risk of becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol and are more prone to depression.
An NCAA study shows the prevalence of gambling among younger people and found that 58% of people between the ages of 18 and 22 have made a sports bet.
Regarding the new coalition, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said it was important to “raise awareness of the public health risks associated with this activity” through easy access to sports betting.
