Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has partnered with the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) to develop gambling prevention resources for schools and parents, as educators report growing concern over adolescent exposure to sports betting, gaming mechanics and illegal online gambling.
The collaboration is being led by the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health (VPGH), which is housed within VCU’s Department of Rehabilitation Counseling.
The program will conduct needs assessments with school staff, develop prevention curriculum and collect data on how gambling behaviors are appearing among adolescents.
The initiative reflects broader concerns emerging across the United States as legal sports betting expands and gambling-related content becomes increasingly visible through smartphones, social media and online entertainment platforms.
Researchers and public health bodies have raised concerns that young people are encountering gambling-like experiences long before reaching the legal gambling age, particularly through video game mechanics such as loot boxes and skins.
VAIS represents 94 independent schools across Virginia. According to the organization, gambling emerged as an area of concern after member schools began seeking guidance on student betting activity and gambling-related behavior.
VCU Professor of Rehabilitation Counseling and VPGH Director, Carolyn E. Hawley, said: “The average age when a child starts gambling is between 11 and 13.”
Hawley added: “Youth also have double the rate of disordered gambling compared to adults.”
The partnership will focus on understanding how schools are encountering gambling-related issues, identifying gaps in awareness and developing educational materials for both educators and parents. VCU also plans to involve peer recovery specialists in school and community outreach efforts.
Sports betting has become a particular concern for researchers due to the accessibility of online markets and the potential for underage users to access betting opportunities through illegal operators or third-party accounts.
Hawley noted that gambling behaviors are increasingly appearing in counseling referrals and educational settings, while financial and academic consequences are becoming more visible among younger adults.
The project is developing against the backdrop of continued growth in Virginia's regulated gambling market. Sports betting tax revenue contributes to the state's Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund, which is administered by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and supports prevention, treatment and recovery programs.
The partnership follows continued growth in Virginia's regulated betting sector. In June, the Virginia Lottery reported that April sports betting revenue increased 15.1% year-on-year to $64.6m, with online wagering accounting for $608.5m of the state's $613.9m total handle.
Virginia's sports betting tax framework allocates 2.5% of tax revenue directly to the Problem Gambling Treatment and Support Fund
