NCPG Survey: Only Half of Parents Have Discussed Gambling With Kids

Just over half of American parents have sat their kids down to talk about gambling. The National Council on Problem Gambling commissioned a Harris Poll, and it puts the figure at 51% of parents and caregivers with children aged 6 to 17. Another 40% say the conversation is on the to-do list. The remaining 9% have no plan to have it at all.

Timing matters here. Sports betting ads run through broadcasts, phones and social feeds now, and prediction markets have pushed event contracts onto the same screens. Kids see the product long before anyone explains it. Derek Longmeier, president of the NCPG board, put it plainly: "Parents are concerned about their children’s exposure to gambling, which makes sense as sports betting and prediction markets become more accessible and visible."

The Washington, D.C. nonprofit works to reduce gambling-related harm, and it argues families need more backup for these conversations. Worry splits sharply along gender lines. Three in four fathers said youth gambling concerns them. Among mothers, the number drops to 42%. Same household, same children. A 33-point gap in reported concern.

What would help? Parents named three things: guidance on spotting early signs of problem gambling, plain-language materials on the risks to young people, and step-by-step advice on when and how to open the conversation. The NCPG says it's building tools along those lines. "We’re hearing from parents who want to better understand the risks and are asking for practical resources to help them have these conversations with their kids," Longmeier said.

The survey lands ahead of the organization's annual Gift Responsibly Campaign, which asks adults to stop giving lottery tickets and other gambling products to minors. More than 230 organizations joined last year, lottery operators and gaming companies among them. That's a 30% increase on the year before.

This time around, the campaign has a complication. The NCPG opened a Financial Services & Trading membership category for prediction markets, and the move hasn't gone down well with everyone. Traditional operators and several state regulators say sports event contracts traded on those platforms are sports betting without a state license.

The fallout is concrete. The Michigan Gaming Control Board, the Ohio Casino Control Commission and the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling have all cut ties or pulled their memberships. Building broad backing for the 2026 agenda gets harder with those names off the roster.

For affiliates, the read is simple. Parents are already anxious about what their kids see, and half of them haven't said a word about it at home. Expect more scrutiny of youth-facing marketing, and expect the Gift Responsibly materials to circulate again as the campaign gets underway.