HUNTING VALLEY, OHIO — Former teenage gambler Saul Malek spoke to seventh and eighth graders at University School in Cleveland at 8 a.m. as part of a day of sessions about the dangers of technology. The 28-year-old shared how a single $10 bet on a baseball game during his teenage years led him to accumulate $25,000 in gambling debt.

By age 21, Malek was contemplating suicide. He now tours the country as a cautionary tale for children about online gambling.

Henry Brown, a senior at University School, observed the prevalence of gambling among his peers. "The three big things are drugs, alcohol and gambling, that parents might freak out about. And I'd say gambling is probably the most common," Brown said.

During a class when Olympic men's hockey was aired, a student groaned because he had not placed a bet on the game.

Some students have found ways to circumvent age restrictions on betting apps, which require users to provide a name, address and Social Security number. "I've got a couple friends that use, like, maybe their parents' or grandparents' Social Security numbers. Some of them had their parents' permission. Some of them definitely didn't," Brown said.

Gavin Owens, another senior at University School, described the impact on his peers who gamble frequently. "They're addicted — they're not present when I'm around them. Their mind's in another place — probably on the spreads," Owens said.

In most states, the minimum age to gamble in a brick-and-mortar casino is 21, though some states allow gambling at age 18. Online sportsbooks are regulated by states as gambling companies and must follow state age minimums.

According to a Common Sense Media survey, one third of boys in the U.S. between ages 11 and 17 reported gambling within the past year. A survey in Massachusetts found that about 10% of children who placed bets experienced problematic gambling that disrupted their personal lives, families or schooling.

FanDuel and DraftKings have zero tolerance policies for underage users and actively monitor accounts for suspicious activity. Both companies said they close accounts used by underage bettors and may report them to state regulators.