FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About Youth Gambling, Sports Betting, and Working With Me

If you’re worried about your son’s sports betting or online gambling, you probably have a lot of questions.

Here are honest answers to the most common ones parents ask me.

UNDERSTANDING YOUTH SPORTS BETTING & PROBLEM GAMBLING

Understanding Teen and College Sports Betting

  • Great question. Lots of young men love sports, stats, and fantasy leagues. That alone isn’t a problem.
    I start to think about problem gambling when I see patterns like: chasing losses, lying about money, mood swings tied to games, skipping responsibilities, or hiding accounts.
    When gambling starts affecting school, work, relationships, or mental health, we’re past “just a hobby.”

  • Legality and safety are not the same thing.
    Most legal sports betting apps are designed to be fast, emotional, and habit‑forming, especially for young men.
    For some kids, it stays small. For others, it turns into significant losses, secrecy, and problem gambling that can wreck finances and futures long before adulthood.

  • You can think of it as a spectrum.
    Problem gambling means the behavior is causing real problems – money, mood, school, relationships – even if he insists he’s “in control.”
    Gambling addiction is further down that spectrum, where stopping feels almost impossible and life is being organized around betting.
    You don’t need the perfect label before we talk. We’ll figure out where he likely is on that spectrum together.

  • Some do. Many don’t.
    Gambling problems rarely just fade quietly; they tend to grow in the dark.
    The earlier you address youth sports betting, the easier it is to turn things around. Waiting for “rock bottom” is a very risky plan.

about working with me

How Working With a Youth Gambling Specialist Works

  • I focus specifically on youth gambling, sports betting, and the way it impacts families.
    I help parents understand what’s really going on, make sense of warning signs, and create plans to protect their sons and their homes.
    Think of me as a guide who understands both the emotional side and the practical reality of problem gambling with teens and young adults.

  • Dads are absolutely welcome. Grandparents and other caregivers too.
    My language often speaks directly to moms because that’s who reaches out most, but the work applies to any parent or caregiver trying to help a young person with gambling problems.

  • No.
    The first step is always a Parent Consultation just for you (and your co‑parent, if you’d like).
    You need a safe place to be honest, get perspective, and ask questions before we involve your son.

  • Yes.
    Most of the families I work with have sons between 16 and 25.
    Once he’s legally an adult, you can’t control his choices, but you can still influence the environment, your boundaries, and how you respond to gambling and sports betting.

 THE LOGISTICS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Privacy, Cost, and Practical Details

  • Yes.
    I treat your situation with respect and discretion.
    We will talk about safety limits and situations where I might encourage extra support, but in general, your story, your fears, and your son’s gambling details are handled with care.

  • No.
    I work on a private‑pay basis. That means we don’t involve insurance companies in your family’s gambling situation.
    Many families prefer this for privacy, flexibility, and the ability to focus on what you actually need rather than what a code allows.

  • Then we don’t start there.
    The first step is always a Parent Consultation, which is a much smaller investment and helps us decide together what level of support makes sense.
    Sometimes ongoing parent support, clear boundaries, and time are the right fit. Sometimes an intensive is appropriate. We’ll make that call based on your real situation and your resources.

  • Both.
    I offer secure online support and, in some cases, in‑person work depending on location and the kind of help your family needs.
    We’ll talk through the options in your consultation and choose what’s realistic for you.

FAMILY DYNAMICS & HARD SITUATIONS

Family Situations That Come Up Around Gambling

  • That’s extremely common.
    Young people addicted to sports betting or online gambling often minimize, joke, or get angry when it’s brought up.
    Even if he refuses help, you can still get support. You can protect your money, your mental health, and your other relationships while you wait for his readiness to change.

  • You’re not the only couple in that situation.
    One parent often sees the problem sooner, while the other wants to believe it’s “just a phase.”
    In a consultation, we can talk through what each of you is seeing, look at concrete signs of problem gambling, and work toward a shared understanding and plan.

  • Gambling rarely shows up alone. It often travels with stress, anxiety, low mood, or other coping behaviors.
    I focus our work on the gambling and sports betting piece, because that’s the fire that can burn through everything quickly.
    If we need to bring in additional support for mental health or substance use, we can discuss that and point you toward other resources.

  • You are still welcome here.
    Most of my work is with boys and young men because that’s where youth sports betting and gambling are most heavily targeted.
    But the patterns of problem gambling are very similar, and the same principles of boundaries, communication, and family healing apply.

RESULTS & EXPECTATIONS

What You Can (and Can’t) Expect

  • Sometimes you see small shifts quickly: clearer boundaries, fewer blow‑ups, more honest conversations.
    Deeper change with gambling and sports betting takes time. There’s no magic switch.
    What you can expect is that we will stop pretending, name what’s really happening, and build a plan that gives your family the best chance at change.

  • I wish I could. I can’t. No one can.
    What I can do is help you create the conditions where change is most likely: clear boundaries, honest conversations, support systems, and consequences that match the reality of the problem.
    Your son still has to choose. You don’t have to wait passively for that choice.

  • Yes.
    Big losses, debt, or serious consequences are scary, but they can also be turning points.
    Even if you feel like you’re “late,” acting now can prevent even more damage and help your family recover with less long‑term fallout.

If You Still Have Questions, Let’s Talk.

No FAQ page can cover everything. Your family’s story is unique.

What I offer isn't a self-help program or a list of resources to sort through on your own. It's one-on-one support—real conversations with someone who understands what you're facing and can help you figure out what to do next.

Whether you're just starting to worry or already in crisis, I'm here to help you cut through the confusion and find a clear path forward.

Book a Confidential Parent Consultation