A wave of online gambling is sweeping through high schools, with students increasingly drawn to virtual poker tables and digital casinos—a trend raising serious alarms among educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers worldwide. Recent first-hand reporting by the New York Post underscores how students, some as young as 14, are losing hundreds or even thousands of dollars in online poker games, often facilitated by easily accessible gambling apps and weak age verification systems. According to a University of Pennsylvania study cited in the report, 2.9 million adolescents in the United States are involved in gambling, with 580,000 playing online. These numbers spotlight a risky phenomenon not confined to the West but resonating globally, including here in Thailand, where digital platforms are increasingly threading into youths’ social lives and leisure activities (New York Post).
Rising adolescent gambling matters deeply for Thai society, already grappling with the rapid growth of digital entertainment and a legacy of gambling’s complex social role. Thai cultural norms often treat gambling as a perilous vice, yet lottery tickets, football betting, and underground card games remain widespread—reflecting ambivalence and challenges in enforcement. The expansion of online gambling, easily accessible via smartphones, raises the stakes. Thai students are comfortable with technology, often spending hours online daily. This environment provides fertile ground for online gambling platforms, which can evade either technical or parental supervision.
Recent research corroborates the escalation of adolescent online gambling globally. A systematic review published by the NIH National Library of Medicine found that 5–15% of adolescents gamble online, with much higher rates for offline gambling depending on the country (NIH PMC8997231). Brief gambling sessions—often under 30 minutes—are common, and online gambling is frequently social, with young people playing in leagues resembling those mentioned in the U.S. report (Emanate Education). Although much of the focus in Thai society has historically been on adult gambling, the new trend among high schoolers represents a generational shift with potentially far-reaching consequences.
Experts say adolescent brains are particularly vulnerable to developing addiction. Dr. Monique Ernst’s research, highlighted in the New York Post feature, explains that the frontal cortex—responsible for logic and self-control—continues developing into the early 20s. This makes teens and young adults especially prone to risky behaviors like gambling and, according to the Office of Problem Gambling Services, those introduced to betting before age 12 are four times more likely to develop gambling issues later in life. A longitudinal review published in 2024 found adolescents exposed to multiple risk behaviors, such as gambling and substance use, are statistically more likely to develop co-occurring addiction problems later on (PubMed 2024). This reinforces the message that online gambling is not an isolated activity but woven into broader health and behavioral risks.
Thai students are at no less risk, particularly as smartphone penetration and digital fluency soar. The cultural tendency for early exposure to “benign” betting—such as football pools during the World Cup, small-stake card games during Songkran, or lottery tickets bought at local markets—can normalize gambling behavior. As digital infrastructures improve and payment gateways proliferate, even modest sums can quickly snowball into substantial debts. Notably, the New York Post article describes how debts among high schoolers can top 1,500 USD—a figure that would represent over 50,000 baht in Thailand, or about two months’ income for many families.
Thai law prohibits most forms of gambling, save for the state lottery and horse racing under strict regulation. Yet enforcement is challenging, particularly for online platforms operated outside the country. Young Thais with modest English skills can easily access global gambling apps, many of which skirt or ignore age restrictions altogether. The proliferation of “grey market” sites, often registered in tax havens like Malta or the Philippines (Wikipedia), compounds the difficulty. Some Thai parents and teachers may not even recognize gambling websites’ true nature, mistaking online poker or digital slots for harmless gaming.
Real-world consequences for young Thais can be devastating. Debts between peers, family conflicts, and the escalation from small bets to chronic addiction are all tangible risks. Moreover, gambling can become a gateway to other illegal activities, such as loan-sharking or even online fraud, piling further pressure on vulnerable youths and their families. “We have seen a clear uptick in students seeking counseling for stress related to online gambling,” says a Bangkok-based school counselor. “Some are dangerously close to dropping out due to mounting debts and deteriorating academic performance.”
Thailand’s unique educational and social context adds new layers to this problem. With the intense academic competition of Mathayom 4-6 years, students may turn to gambling as a form of stress relief or even a misguided shot at quick wealth. Widespread use of LINE and messaging apps fosters “underground” gambling groups, often hidden from school monitoring. School-based campaigns against drugs and alcohol, while common, rarely address online gambling, creating a blind spot in addiction prevention programs.
International evidence underscores the urgent need for proactive intervention. A key recommendation from addiction researchers is for parents and educators to foster open, non-judgmental dialogues about gambling early, rather than responding only after crises emerge. Restricting access to gambling apps, using robust parental controls on devices, and teaching digital literacy are practical, immediate steps. Importantly, school curricula should reflect the new landscape of online vice—moving beyond alcohol and tobacco to explicitly address gambling and its risks. Class discussions or targeted health education about the psychological mechanics of gambling addiction could empower students to make safer choices (ResearchGate).
For Thai policymakers, the stakes are equally high. The state can survey the situation by leveraging school-based mental health services and expanding research into adolescent digital behaviors. Reviews of gambling laws, including potential collaborations with payment processors to restrict underage gambling transactions, could help stem the tide. International partnerships—such as sharing best practices with regulators in the EU or Australia, where online gambling is heavily scrutinized—might help adapt relevant solutions locally.
Thai culture cherishes the value of “sufficiency” and moderation, as enshrined in King Bhumibol’s guiding philosophy. Applying this mindset to online behavior can help parents and teachers frame conversations with children. Instead of forbidding all online games, adults might distinguish between skill-building activities and high-risk gambling, encouraging self-control and critical thinking. School-based “digital citizenship” lessons could harness Buddhist principles of mindfulness—encouraging students to pause and reflect before clicking into casinos online, much as one might pause before making any impulsive or risky real-life decision.
This trend represents a sharp intersection between old vices and new technologies, requiring culturally sensitive, multi-pronged responses. Without swift intervention, Thailand may see a new generation struggling not just with academic pressures and digital distractions but also with the lifelong consequences of unchecked gambling addiction. For now, the surging popularity of online gambling among high school students offers a sobering warning: in a high-tech world, age-old temptations remain as potent as ever—perhaps more so.
What can Thai families do right now? Open and honest conversations are crucial—don’t wait until debts arise. Parents should familiarize themselves with the types of online games and apps their children use, utilize available parental controls, and model responsible financial behavior. Schools should adapt health and digital literacy curricula to address online gambling risks, with support from public health and mental health experts. And if you or your child need help, reach out to school counselors, mental health professionals, or organizations specializing in addiction prevention. Together, with awareness, education, and compassion, we can help protect Thai youth from the digital dangers hidden in online games of chance.
- Online gambling on the rise among high school students – New York Post
- Problematic online gambling among adolescents: A systematic review, NIH PMC8997231
- Online gambling among higher education learners – ResearchGate
- Explores the Prevalence of Gambling Among High School Students – Emanate Education
- Online Gambling in Teenagers – Wikipedia