'Like a drug': SF man says he got hooked on betting at age 11 as teen gambling addiction surges

March 28, 2026 - 09:54

"It felt like crack cocaine. It was like ridiculous." These are the words of Kurt Freudenberg, a San Francisco man who traces the roots of his severe gambling addiction back to the age of eleven. His gateway wasn't a casino or a racetrack, but a popular first-person shooter video game.

Freudenberg describes becoming hooked on the game's system of randomized cosmetic rewards, known as "skins." He began selling these virtual items, an early introduction to the high-risk, high-reward cycle that would define his later life. This childhood experience normalized the thrill of chance and the pursuit of a valuable payout, mirroring the psychological hooks of traditional gambling.

His story arrives amid growing concern from public health experts and educators about a surge in teen gambling addiction. The landscape has shifted dramatically from physical card games to digital environments where the lines between gaming and gambling are increasingly blurred. Loot boxes, skin betting, and social casino apps are creating a new generation at risk, often without parental awareness.

Experts warn that the adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to these mechanisms, which are designed to be compelling and habit-forming. The consequences can be severe, leading to significant financial loss, academic failure, fractured relationships, and co-occurring mental health issues like depression and anxiety. The call for greater awareness, regulatory scrutiny of gaming mechanics, and early education is growing louder to address this hidden epidemic.