While adolescence is only a short period of one's life, it is a time of critical developmental change and growth. There exist high rates of risk-taking behavior during adolescence, including with behaviors like gambling that have addictive potential and carry associated risks. Future research needs to focus on understanding the longitudinal course of adolescent gambling in general and how gambling problems in adolescents develop and progress in all dimensions. A neurobiological understanding that incorporates the influences of genetic and environmental factors and considers other important factors (e.g., gender and developmental stage) will be important in developing appropriate prevention and treatment strategies for youth populations.