Don't Bet on Your Future is Michigan's Message to Teenagers
Jesse M. Cox Published 18/05/2026
Seeking to educate teenagers on the inherent dangers of gambling, the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) is introducing a comprehensive statewide campaign aimed at protecting young Michiganders from the growing risks of underage and problem gambling.
Known as Don't Bet On Your Future, the program aims to reach high school-aged youth before they are of legal age to gamble in Michigan. The legal gambling age in Michigan is 21. The MGCB is the state licenser and regulator for all gambling across the state. Educational programs will be introduced at state high schools, offering educational tools and resources about gambling.
Underage gambling is a problem across America
Michigan wants to send a clear message to young people living in the state. Gambling is for adults. The state gambling regulator is setting out to ensure that young people are hearing that message as loudly as the gambling ads that surround them.
Michigan is among a select number of U.S. states that offer legal and regulated sports betting, casino gambling, and poker, both in-person and online. Studies show that people who begin gambling underage tend to be more likely to develop a gambling problem as adults.
“According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, nearly two-thirds of American adults report having gambled before the age of 21 — and young people in Michigan are no exception,” Henry Williams, Executive Director of the MGCB, said in a statement. “Don’t Bet on Your Future is about building a statewide community of education and prevention — one that runs through our schools, our coaches, our parents, and our neighborhoods.
"We are committed to ensuring the next generation understands the real risks of gambling before they ever place a bet.”
The campaign details are accessible at DontBetOnYourFuture.org, which offers tips and resources designed specifically to prevent youth gambling. The program is an expansion of the MGCB’s established Don’t Regret the Bet responsible gambling platform. It introduces a suite of new resources for youth, schools, and families across Michigan.
The youth boosters program will be operating through Michigan high schools
Don't Bet On Your Future is going to go directly to the source in its efforts to educate the youth of Michigan about the dangers of underage gambling. Through state high schools, the MGCB is offering access to the youth boosters program.
Up to $4,000 will be available to Michigan high school booster clubs. This is a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative. It invites school-affiliated booster clubs across Michigan to become frontline advocates for youth gambling prevention. The MGCB will be supplying schools with approved messaging about underage gambling risks through channels they already use. That includes digital and social media ads, scoreboards, event programs, and school newsletters. Eligible organizations will also receive evidence-based resources specifically designed to support parents, coaches, and students.
By delivering this message of education and prevention to students directly through trusted sources like coaches, athletic directors, and booster volunteers, the MGCB feels the words will resonate more clearly.
More anti-youth gambling programs will be arriving in the fall
The MGCB plans to roll out further initiatives on the youth gambling front in the fall of 2026. It's the Gambling Education and Prevention (GAP) Grant Program. It will begin accepting applications this summer, allowing schools to apply in time for the upcoming school year.
The GAP Grant Program will offer grants to eligible high schools, colleges, and qualifying community organizations to establish local gambling awareness education programs covering Michigan's gambling landscape. Michigan currently has no statewide mandate for gambling-prevention instruction, leaving schools and community organizations without structured resources to address the issue.
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