Gambling addiction is a hot topic as more and more US states look to broaden their current laws to allow sports betting and online casinos. Those against expansion believe that doing so could open the floodgates of people suffering from excessive wagering.
Highlighting this plight, a gambling addiction counselor recently told a harrowing story with ODAAT Gambling Awareness about her youngest client. At just 15 years old, he spent nearly $887,000 on FanDuel after taking his grandmother’s and parent’s Social Security numbers to create accounts:
She explained how the kid came from a great family with a solid support system, emphasizing how this can happen to anyone. The teenager was able to open four FanDuel accounts, three of which were frozen.
placed many of the wagers when he was supposed to be sleeping or in school
His $887,000 in bets came over a 12-month period, and he placed many of the wagers when he was supposed to be sleeping or in school. He even had side bets in school with his peers, covering his debts by ordering Uber Eats when he lost.
The counselor explained how he relapsed after some initial treatment success, managing to set up a credit card, open another FanDuel account, and spend $5,000. The interviewer asked if FanDuel ever tried to verify the kid’s age, and the counselor said the sportsbook operator never did.