When most parents think about internet dangers for children, they think about predators or explicit content. But two Florida attorneys are sounding the alarm about a threat hiding in plain sight: offshore gambling platforms that are deliberately targeting minors and turning them into addicts before they’re old enough to vote.
- Troy Rafferty and Madeline Pendley of Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa (RDCY) recently joined me on the podcast We Don’t Color on the Dog to discuss a groundbreaking case and a growing crisis.
The First-Ever Underage Gambling Complaint
“We filed the first underage gambling complaint ever on file in the state of New York,” said attorney Madeline Pendley. The case targets Stake.com, described as the world’s largest crypto-based online casino platform, which pulls in an estimated $5 billion or more per year. Despite being technically illegal for minors, the platform is shockingly easy for kids to access.
- The client at the center of the case began gambling as a teenager, lost tens of thousands of dollars, and had to withdraw from college after just eight days when his funds were gone. He now attends Gamblers Anonymous four or five times a week.
Pendley explained that Stake.com funnels hundreds of millions of dollars annually into influencer marketing, celebrity endorsements and sports team sponsorships to hook young audiences. Paid streamers broadcast gambling sessions live on YouTube, where there are no age restrictions, making it easy for a 12-year-old to watch and want to try it themselves.
- “Their little brain’s getting rewired,” Pendley said. Online forums then guide minors on how to bypass age verification using VPNs, and the platforms have done little to stop it.
A Pattern as Old as Tobacco
Attorney Troy Rafferty drew stark parallels to past public health crises. “It’s no different than tobacco. If you get to the kids, then you’re sustaining your business model because they’re the easiest to get addicted. Their brains are still forming.”
- He noted that over 35% of children ages 11 to 17 reported gambling in the last year—a staggering statistic that underscores just how widespread the problem has become. And it’s not just Stake.com. RDCY is also investigating claims against DraftKings and FanDuel.
What Parents Need to Know
Rafferty emphasized that today’s parents are navigating dangers that simply didn’t exist a generation ago. “These companies hire psychologists to figure out how to get into the minds of your children,” he warned. The bright colors, flashing lights and reward loops of online casinos are deliberately designed to mirror mobile games that kids already love.
RDCY is expanding the case nationwide and pushing toward a multi-district litigation (MDL). In the meantime, Rafferty invited Pensacola-area families to a free community town hall on May 15th at the Brownsville Community Center, bringing together law enforcement, therapists, and other professionals to help parents protect their children online.
