Published July 05, 2025 | By Alyx E, Founder of Collectors MD
Card collecting has always carried an element of chance—the thrill of the pull, the chase for something rare. But today’s version of the hobby isn’t just about excitement. It’s about exposure. And the ones being exposed the most? Kids.
We’re seeing children—literal 10 to 12-year-olds—deep in break culture, ripping high-end product, chasing clout, and sometimes spending tens of thousands of dollars in the process. No parental guidance. No industry safeguards. No real accountability.
And yet, no one blinks.
In most states, you can’t place a bet on FanDuel until you’re 21. But you can drop thousands on a box of sports cards at 13, live-stream it for followers, and gamble your way through adolescence under the banner of “fun.” There are more regulations on slot machines than there are on breaks.
How and why aren’t we talking about this?
The psychological loop—risk, reward, repeat—is no different. The desire for social validation, the dopamine from a big hit, the pressure to stay relevant on Instagram or Whatnot—it’s all part of a system that mirrors gambling far more than it mirrors collecting.
Some kids are growing up more fluent in comps and cardboard than actual conversation. They’re learning about ROI before responsibility. And while some of it can build hustle and community, we can’t ignore the flip side: addiction, anxiety, burnout, and identity tied to what was originally intended to be a childhood hobby.
The question is no longer if the hobby resembles gambling. It’s why we’re still pretending it doesn’t—especially when kids are front and center.
Last month at Fanatics Fest in NYC, children roamed the floors while Fanatics Sportsbook banners loom overhead.
This isn’t subtle. This isn’t harmless. This is strategic.
When half the audience is children, and you’re surrounding them with gambling promotions—what exactly are we normalizing?
It’s not just careless. It’s predatory. And somehow, it’s allowed.
We’ve reached a point where sports betting ads are wallpaper at family-friendly events—and no one bats an eye. The lines are being blurred on purpose. And the long-term consequences? They’re being ignored in the name of profit.
We need to ask ourselves—who’s protecting the next generation of collectors, fans, and hobbyists? Because it sure as hell isn’t the people cashing in.
Let’s be honest—the real reason we’re not talking about any of this until now is money. The platforms, manufacturers, breakers, and power players would rather look the other way than jeopardize their revenue streams. Safeguards mean scrutiny. Protections mean accountability. And accountability threatens profit.
So instead, they keep the machine running—and the kids keep ripping.
We owe the next generation of collectors better. That means safeguards—age gates, cool off periods, deposit limits & self exclusion tools. That means regulation. And that means finally having the courage to say out loud what so many are thinking in silence. If we wait any longer, it will be too late.
#CollectorsMD
If a child can lose themselves in a hobby meant to bring joy, then the system isn’t just broken—it’s rigged.
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