Colorado’s next public health crisis?

Denver Post, June 18, 2026

In this front-page Denver Post feature examining the rapid rise of sports betting in Colorado, journalist Noelle Phillips explores the growing concern among educators, mental health professionals, policymakers, and addiction experts that gambling may become the state's next major public health challenge.

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The article highlights the work of Gambling Awareness Initiative founder Arty Smith, whose school-based presentations use probability, expected value, data analysis, and cognitive bias to help students understand the mathematical realities of sports betting. Smith explains why common wagers such as parlays and over/under bets are designed to favor the sportsbook, regardless of a bettor's sports knowledge.

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The feature also examines the broader impacts of legalized sports betting, including addiction, youth exposure, public policy, and Colorado's efforts to expand prevention and awareness programs.  link

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Gambling & Risk Taking: Teaching Teens the Maths of Gambling

G3 Newswire, May 2026

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Ahead of the 19th International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking at Bellagio, Arty Smith was featured by G3 Newswire to discuss his evidence-based approach to youth gambling prevention.

In the interview, Smith explains how probability, simulations, expected value, and cognitive bias can help students better understand the mathematical realities of sports betting. Rather than relying solely on warnings about addiction, his presentations aim to challenge the widespread belief among teenagers that sports betting is a profitable skill-based activity.

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The conversation also explores the role of data literacy, the normalization of gambling through sports and gaming culture, and why schools increasingly need to address gambling as part of student wellness and financial literacy education.  link

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Rigged Odds

Independent School Magazine, Fall 2025

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This feature in Independent School magazine highlights the growing rise of sports gambling among teenagers and the work of Gambling Awareness Initiative founder Arty Smith.

The article explores how Smith uses probability, statistics, and decades of NFL betting data to help students understand the mathematical realities of sports betting and the cognitive biases that make young people especially vulnerable to gambling harm. It also examines the rapid expansion of legalized sports betting, the increasing normalization of gambling in youth culture, and why schools are beginning to view gambling education as an important part of student wellness and financial literacy.  link

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Does This Teacher Have the Cure for Gambling Addiction?

ODAAT Gambling Awareness Podcast with Rob Minnick, September 2025

 

One in five young males are at high risk for problem gambling, a statistic that alarms Colorado math teacher Arty Smith. In this episode, Arty shares how his decades of teaching led him to create a gambling awareness curriculum blending math, data science, and storytelling. We cover why schools are unprepared for this crisis, how short-term wins fuel overconfidence, the role of fantasy sports, and why education—not denial—is the best defense. Arty breaks down the math behind sports betting, the signs of problem gambling, and how communities can protect kids. Together, we explore whether schools should teach abstinence or “responsible” gambling, and why every high school needs this conversation now.  link

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How One Independent School Educator Is Tackling the Rise in Student Gambling

Independent School Moonshot Podcast with Peter Baron, July 2025

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What if sports gambling becomes the next unspoken crisis on your campus?

 

In this compelling episode, Arty Smith, a longtime independent school educator and founder of the Gambling Awareness Initiative, unpacks the growing influence of sports betting among teenagers, especially senior boys.

Drawing on his background in statistics and data science, Arty outlines why sports betting is uniquely hard to detect, why it's so appealing to adolescents, and how independent schools are often unprepared for this emerging risk.  Far from a moral panic, Arty brings a grounded, academic lens to the topic, showing how data literacy and cognitive bias education can inoculate students against the illusion of control that fuels gambling behavior. Heads of school, deans, advisors, and parents will walk away with actionable insights and a deeper understanding of how to support students and their communities in the face of a rapidly expanding industry. link

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Coaching, Teaching, and Tackling Sports Gambling: Insights with Arty Smith

Contacts Coaching Podcast with Justin Clymo, May 2025

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In this episode of the Contacts Coaching Podcast, host Justin welcomes Arty Smith, a former head soccer coach and AP Stats and Data Science teacher at Kent Denver School. Arty shares his journey into teaching and coaching, detailing the pivotal moments that shaped his career. He discusses his passion for statistics and data science, and how he pioneered elective courses to teach these subjects through sports and social justice issues. Arty also touches on his successful coaching tenure, reflecting on his evolution as a coach and the importance of leadership and effort in building a strong team culture. Recently, Arty has turned his attention to addressing the growing issue of sports gambling among high school students. He highlights the prevalence of gambling, the mathematical realities that make it a losing proposition, and the importance of educating young people to make informed decisions. Tune in to hear his insights and learn about his new educational venture aimed at combating this emerging problem. link

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