Groundbreakers in Action: Meet the Changemakers - Carter Bennett

“I started Project GameChangers because there aren’t any organizations focusing on youth gambling.”

Welcome to our third feature in our Meet the Changemakers series - a weekly look into the steps young leaders are taking to turn bold ideas into real-world impact. We hope these stories spark connection and inspiration among young leaders everywhere, showing that when gaps persist in our communities, we have the power to step up, create solutions, and lead change together.

This submission from Carter Bennett, a high school student in rural Maine, addresses the importance of tackling unhealthy habits from a young age. Carter founded GameChangers, a peer-to-peer contact project that focuses on diverting young people away from youth gambling, a growing issue in his high school and among students across the country. Acknowledging that gambling is one of the fastest growing addictions in America, and that sports gambling at a young age is a gateway to unhealthy addictions, Carter’s project is spreading awareness to at-risk youth on the harms of gambling and sports betting.

His story is deeply rooted in a persistence to fight against harmful traps faced by vulnerable communities across the country. One thing is for certain — real change doesn’t wait. It takes the courage of young, bold leaders to address problems in their community that may go unnoticed by others.

Read, reflect, and join the conversation in the comments below. Let’s celebrate these changemakers and the powerful future they’re already building.

In his own words…

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Hi! I’m Carter Bennett, a 16-year-old from Maranacook Community High School in Maine. Last year, I was sitting in my pre-calculus class when I heard my deskmates discussing the money they lost when betting on the Patriots game the night before. This is an issue I’ve seen repeated constantly in my school. Student after student, parlay after parlay, more of my peers are slipping into the sports gambling trap. Gambling is one of the fastest-growing addictions in America, so it’s important that youth have the tools they need to fight back. Like all addictions, gambling addictions are more likely when you start young. In fact, people who started gambling before they were adults are sixteen times more likely to develop a gambling addiction compared to those who began as adults. Increasingly, advertisements by companies like DraftKings and FanDuel are directed towards youth, normalizing dangerous sports betting habits.

GameChangers is the first youth-led project to tackle gambling in young people. GameChangers uses peer-to-peer contact, the most effective method of communication among young people, to spread the word. Community leaders, like coaches or athletes, also provide powerful ways to spread the message to at-risk youth(kids who play sports are also more likely to gamble). GameChangers will combine a social media blitz, youth outreach strategy, and working with leaders in sports to create a powerful message and stop youth gambling.

GameChangers will have many metrics to success and multiple projects that target anti-youth gambling programming. Social media clicks, the number of schools and athletic leagues participating in GameChangers programs, and engagement hours with kids are just a number of metrics we hope to track. Alongside these metrics, individual feedback will be important to tailor content to different audiences. Lastly, GameChangers will use legislative advocacy to uplift awareness about youth gambling addictions, so the number of bills sponsored or passed will be useful to see our success.

GameChangers is starting off in rural Maine, but with the help of a passionate youth community, I hope to share the message of GameChangers and work with community leaders all around the United States. Together we can stop the rise in youth gambling.

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CRG is committed to providing a platform for a wide range of voices and experiences. Some posts may address complex issues, personal stories, or calls to action meant to inspire reflection and community engagement. We encourage respectful dialogue and learning across generations.