The legal gambling age is 21. Here's when people actually started.

Answer:

65%, or nearly two thirds

Questions:

• Does a fantasy football league with a $5 buy-in count as gambling? Where would you draw the line?
• Would you rather have a guaranteed $20, or a 1-in-10 chance at $200? Why?
• Do you think the money habits you form as a teenager stick with you? Why or why not?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the Numbers: (NCPG)

In a survey conducted by The Harris Poll for the National Council on Problem Gambling, "Nearly two thirds of adults aged 21 and older (65%) report participating in at least one form of gambling before age 21." Sports betting showed a sharp generational split: "33% of 21–44-year-olds placed a sports bet before 21, versus 11% of 55+." The survey also found that "Two-thirds of Americans (66%) say they are concerned about the impact of underage exposure to gambling or gambling-like activities." (Fielded February 19–23, 2026 among 2,072 U.S. adults; published March 2, 2026.)

Want to go deeper with your students? Yanely is teaching Teaching the Odds: Sports Betting & Prediction Markets at NGPF's Back to School Virtual Conference on Saturday, August 22.

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.

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