Young people under 25 are at increased risk of developing gambling problems compared with older adults, whose brains are fully mature. Mental health professionals and industry experts say this factor, combined with the 24/7 accessibility of mobile sports wagering apps, has made gambling addiction among Long Island's younger generations including teenagers a harmful and growing trend.

In response, at least one school district on Long Island has started educating graduating seniors about the dangers of gambling. Area universities are also taking proactive steps to provide outreach to students and some local education advocates are pushing gaming platforms to strengthen their safety checks, particularly for minors.

Lorena Mongelli reports in NEWSDAY that on the state level, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently unveiled a proposal to expand age verification requirements for gaming platforms and to strengthen privacy settings. The legal age to bet online is 18 for fantasy sports and 21 for sports wagering. Online casinos are not legal in New York.

While many gamblers are over 18, experts say they are also seeing underage players developing problematic betting habits.

In 2018, federal restrictions on sports betting were lifted by the U.S. Supreme Court. New York State in 2022 legalized online betting, which includes mobile sportsbooks and fantasy sports. Since then, online wagering has surged in popularity. Online bettors in New York wagered a record-breaking $26 billion in 2025, more than any other state.

But the increased appeal has come at a cost.

Local mental health professionals said their treatment offices are seeing more Gen Z patients struggling with gambling. Gambling recovery organizations on Long Island said they are also fielding more calls from people seeking help.

A spokesman for Gamblers Anonymous Long Island said the increase began around the time online betting was legalized. Last month, the local branch received double the number of calls compared with November, with people as young as 18 seeking help.

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A federal judge yesterday granted Empire Wind a preliminary injunction to allow the project off Long Island's South Shore to restart construction following a stop-work order by the Trump administration last month over unspecified national security concerns.

Mark Harrington reports in NEWSDAY that U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols granted the order Thursday morning, calling for an expedited summary judgment briefing schedule for the ongoing case by Jan. 20, according to court filings. The order from the Washington, D.C.-based federal court means the project, which is more than 60% complete, can go forward and avoid critical work deadlines that could have canceled it, developer Equinor of Norway said.

"Empire Wind will now focus on safely restarting construction activities that were halted during the suspension period," the company said in a statement yesterday. "In addition, the project will continue to engage with the U.S. government to ensure the safe, secure and responsible execution of its operations."

White House spokesman Taylor Rogers responded, “President [Donald] Trump has been clear: wind energy is the scam of the century," with Americans "forced to pay billions more for the least reliable source of energy." He said the administration "looks forward to ultimate victory on the issue.”

Equinor has already spent $4 billion on the 810-megawatt project, which is 14 miles off the coast of Jones Beach and will bring all its energy to the New York City power grid late this year and next. The company plans to spend another $2 billion to complete the project this year.

Earlier this week, a Washington, D.C., district judge granted a similar injunction for a second offshore wind array impacted by the order, Revolution Wind off New England. Orders remain in place for three others, including Sunrise...