Youth Sports Betting: The Hidden Addiction in Schools | Saul Malek

Youth Sports Betting: The Hidden Addiction in Schools | Saul Malek

You wouldn't smell it on a student—and you won't find it in a backpack. So how do you spot the addiction that's quietly reaching your hallways?

Host Bridget Johnson talks with Saul Malek, professional speaker and America's emerging voice on the modern gambling landscape, about youth gambling as an overlooked student wellness issue. Saul's addiction began with a single $10 bet in college and grew into a $20,000+ spiral that cost him relationships, sleep, and nearly his life before he entered recovery in 2019.

Drawing on his work in schools nationwide, Saul explains why gambling is a "subtle and progressive" addiction that online access has accelerated, how it's now reaching students through video games and microtransactions, and what student life leaders can actually do about it—from screening questions to handbook policy to parent education.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why gambling addiction is so easy to hide—and which warning signs actually matter

How a small first bet escalates into a full-blown addiction

Why online access has sped up how fast students get hooked

How gambling is reaching middle schoolers through gaming and loot boxes

How schools can balance accountability with treatment and protect students who ask for help

Featured Guest: Saul Malek is a professional speaker and founder of Saul Malek Speaking LLC who has been in recovery from gambling addiction since 2019. He delivers assemblies, workshops, and parent and faculty sessions on youth gambling for schools nationwide, with his story featured by the New York Times, NPR, PBS NewsHour, and Dr. Phil Primetime.

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