Fantasy sports giving teens easy access to online gambling, gambling council says

The Responsible Gambling Council says gambling is only a click away for many teens.

Fantasy sports — online contests where players assemble a sports roster made up of real-life players — are exploding in popularity and teens are starting to get in on the action.

Jeff Beaumont, a student at Riverside high school in Windsor, Ont., says he's never bet any money on fantasy sports, but he can see the potential for trouble.

"I get a bunch of friends, we make our own pool and league. We have set rules between us and we try to follow those rules," Beaumont said in an interview with CBC News.

Beaumont participated in a seminar at his school Tuesday on the dangers of online gambling, hosted by the Responsible Gambling Council.

"I don't think [gambling] would be a problem to me personally, but I know a lot of people who take [fantasy sports] seriously, they could bet a lot of money on it and lose it fast," Beaumont said. "You can make small change with a few buddies, but I wouldn't bet any money on it."

Another student, Kristina Cipkar said she sometimes plays poker with her friends but it's never for any money. She said she often sees other students participating in fantasy sports leagues.

"It seems like it's not crazy, betting money, but they do continue on," she said. "Once they hit 18, they're allowed to legally gamble."  

Research from the Responsible Gambling Council suggests 18 to 24-year-olds are the most at risk of gambling problems.

Most fantasy leagues operate throughout a season and do not directly offer prize money, but there are single-week sites that advertise lucrative payoffs.

Paul Pellizzari, the executive director of social responsibility at the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. predicts that gaming-prevention experts will zero in on fantasy sports offerings in future outreach efforts "because it is an emerging form of gambling."