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NBA and MLB Are Urged to Address Youth Gambling

Millions of kids and their families will watch the NBA Finals; MLB games average over 2M viewers

SAN FRANCISCO, June 3, 2026—With the NBA Finals starting this week and MLB viewership at its highest level in a decade, Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer called on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to take steps to protect kids from the surge of online sports betting that is hurting America's kids—and boys in particular. Steyer called on the commissioners to be transparent about how the leagues make decisions around gambling, what safeguards exist to prevent underage gambling, and what accountability measures are in place to protect kids and families.

Earlier this year, Common Sense Media's "Betting on Boys" research found that a third of American adolescent boys are gambling before they are old enough to vote.

Steyer wrote to Silver: "In 2014, you wrote in your New York Times op-ed that legalized sports betting was 'inevitable' and should be brought 'out of the underground and into the sunlight where it can be appropriately monitored and regulated.' More than a decade later, we are deeply concerned that the integration of gambling into professional basketball, other major sports, and sports media has expanded to the point where existing regulations are ineffective and outdated, and where online sports betting is becoming normalized—even for our youth. And, as the largest children's advocacy organization in the country dedicated to protecting and preparing kids and teens in a world dominated by technology, we approach the issue of online sports gambling with a special concern about how it negatively affects young boys and teens."

Steyer asked Silver to address the following questions:

  • Digital Access and Age Gating: What age verification systems are in place on NBA Fantasy platforms, given that minors participate while these platforms now heavily integrate gambling material and odds? Does the NBA require age verification before allowing users to access betting lines, prop bets, or gambling odds integrated into game statistics on NBA.com and the NBA app?
  • In-Stadium Protections: What policies govern the placement of gambling kiosks, sportsbook lounges, or gambling-related advertising inside NBA arenas? Are there protections to ensure separation from family sections, youth programming areas, or kid-focused spaces?
  • Broadcast and Streaming Safeguards: During daytime broadcasts and other high-youth-viewership programming, are there restrictions on the frequency, placement, or material of gambling advertisements? What standards does the NBA use to determine whether gambling advertising is age-appropriate, and who is responsible for enforcing those standards?
  • Data Collection and Minors: What safeguards prevent gambling partners from collecting data on users under 18 through NBA-owned platforms, apps, or websites? Does the NBA independently audit its gambling partners to ensure they are not marketing to minors or using youth engagement data for advertising purposes?
  • Parental Controls and Consumer Transparency: What parental control tools are available across NBA digital products and partner platforms to limit or block gambling-related material for minors? Does the NBA provide parents with clear, accessible guidance on how to shield children from gambling material while still allowing them to enjoy MLB games and programming?

To Manfred, Steyer wrote: "We are reaching out to you directly because Major League Baseball is one of the most influential cultural institutions in the United States and has long positioned itself as a family-friendly league. As a father, grandfather, and national leader in sports, you understand the profound influence MLB has on generations of young fans. Your decisions carry enormous influence over how gambling is normalized to kids who are not old enough to vote, buy cigarettes or alcohol, or in some cases, even old enough to drive."

Steyer asked Manfred to address the following questions:

  • In-Stadium Protections: What policies govern the placement of gambling kiosks, sportsbook lounges, or gambling-related advertising inside MLB stadiums? Are there protections to ensure separation from family sections, youth programming areas, or kid-focused spaces?
  • Broadcast and Streaming Safeguards: During daytime broadcasts and other high-youth-viewership programming, are there restrictions on the frequency, placement, or material of gambling advertisements? What standards does MLB use to determine whether gambling advertising is age-appropriate, and who is responsible for enforcing those standards?
  • Data Collection and Minors: What safeguards prevent gambling partners from collecting data on users under 18 through MLB-owned platforms, apps, or websites? Does MLB independently audit its gambling partners to ensure they are not marketing to minors or using youth engagement data for advertising purposes?
  • Parental Controls and Consumer Transparency: What parental control tools are available across MLB digital products and partner platforms to limit or block gambling-related material for minors? Does MLB provide parents with clear, accessible guidance on how to shield children from gambling material while still allowing them to enjoy MLB games and programming?

"If boys are entering the sports betting pipeline as early as age 11, professional sports leagues cannot credibly claim to be bystanders to the problem. The American public deserves transparency about how decisions around gambling partnerships are made, what safeguards currently exist, and what accountability measures are in place to protect children and teens," Steyer wrote to both commissioners.

The full letter to the NBA can be found here. The full letter to the MLB can be found here. Common Sense Media's research on boys and gambling can be found here.

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org