Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Opinion: Utah parents — there’s a bookie in your college freshman’s pocket

deseret.com · 6h · first reportShare

Utah has not legalized sports betting. But this fall, an 18-year-old freshman can nonetheless walk into a dorm room, pull out their phone and wager real money on sports through a so-called “prediction market.” Platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket let users as young as 18 all across the country gamble on everything from sports to what word might be mentioned at a press conference. It doesn’t matter what the laws are in Utah or any other state. Unlike traditional online sports betting apps, these platforms don’t abide by state age minimums or other state guardrails, nor do they provide problem gambling resources to prevent addiction. Opinion: Prediction markets are national security risks Instead, these companies insist they are federally regulated financial exchanges — investment tools — not sportsbooks. But for a college freshman with a Venmo balance and a favorite team, the distinction is meaningless. It is sports gambling. Most parents assume the guardrails are in place. About 80% of