He got hooked on betting at age 11. By college he gambled 15 hours a day.
He got hooked on betting at age 11. By college he gambled 15 hours a day.
In Hunting Valley, Ohio, Saul Malek has become a cautionary figure, traveling across the country to warn young people about the allure of online gambling. Once a potential drug addict or reckless driver, Malek now serves as a living example of how technology has transformed everyday life into a constant game of chance. At 28, he spoke to students at University School in Cleveland, where he delivered a day-long session on the perils of digital gambling. “Who here is a sports fan?” he asked a group of teenagers dressed in dark blazers and button-down shirts. The room erupted with hands raising in response.
Malek recounted how his habit began with a $10 bet on a baseball game during his teenage years, eventually spiraling into a financial and emotional crisis. By 21, he had accumulated $25,000 in debt and considered taking his own life. “You don’t realize the damage until it’s already done,” he told the students, a warning he later repeated to middle schoolers. The audience, including peers and parents, recognized the ease with which betting apps have infiltrated their routines. These platforms let users wager on everything from individual plays to international events, making gambling a seamless part of daily life.
“The three big things are drugs, alcohol and gambling — and parents are often the most surprised,” said Henry Brown, a senior at University School. “Gambling is probably the most common.”
Students shared how casual conversations about the Cleveland Cavaliers often devolved into heated discussions about betting strategies. When a teacher aired Olympic men’s hockey during class, one student lamented missing out on a chance to place a bet. “They’re addicted — they’re not present when I’m around them,” said Gavin Owens, a University School senior. He described classmates who constantly check their phones, immersed in betting apps, their minds fixated on odds and spreads.
A teen’s journey from video games to financial ruin
Kurt Freudenberg, now 23, began his gambling spree at just 11 years old. He traded valuable “skins” in video games — virtual cosmetic upgrades — for digital currency, which he used to bet on online platforms. Within weeks, the sixth grader was wagering thousands of dollars daily on blackjack and roulette. “It felt like a high, an extreme rush,” Freudenberg recalled. “Nothing compared to the thrill of gambling.”
“If I had a bad day, I’d gamble. If I had a good day, I’d gamble,” Freudenberg added. “Gambling was my best friend.”
By high school, Freudenberg expanded his betting to NBA and NFL games, as well as cryptocurrency-only offshore casinos. He once won $5,000 on a single bet, immediately reinvesting it into more games. His parents remained unaware until he entered college, where he became consumed by gambling for 15 hours a day. He skipped classes, neglected personal hygiene, and lost track of time. “We thought he was gonna say it was drugs,” his mother, Kim Freudenberg, said. “But he said, ‘I’m gambling.’”
Tracking the rise of youth gambling
National data on teenage gambling addiction remains sparse, but local surveys reveal alarming trends. A Common Sense Media study found that a third of boys aged 11 to 17 gamble at least once a year, including online sports betting, lottery tickets, and poker among friends. In Massachusetts, a survey noted that roughly 10% of young gamblers experience issues disrupting their studies, relationships, or daily lives.
As the stories of Malek and Freudenberg show, the shift to digital platforms has made gambling more accessible than ever. Providers in addiction clinics now report an increasing number of teenagers seeking help, marking a stark contrast to past decades when older adults dominated treatment programs. “We used to see mostly people in their 40s, 50s, or 60s,” said Elizabeth Thielen, senior director at Nicasa Behavi. “Now it’s just gotten really young.”
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