Youth Gambling Is a Public Health Issue | Ben Spooner

In Episode 1 of The Odds Against Us, Connor Huynh is joined by Ben Spooner, a prevention specialist with the Education Development Center and the Massachusetts Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling Prevention.The conversation explores how gambling is viewed through a public health lens, the rapid rise of sports betting, and what these changes mean for youth exposure. They also discuss how gambling platforms are designed to keep users engaged, the growing overlap between gaming and gambling, and the challenges of preventing harm in an increasingly digital environment.This episode sets the foundation for understanding how gambling begins, why it’s so difficult to regulate, and what can be done to better protect young people.