The American dream is ‘very dead’ for young Americans, says Mrs. Dow Jones

Financial influencer Haley Sacks (Mrs. Dow Jones) argues the American dream is dead for millennials and Gen Z, as traditional wealth-building paths like homeownership and stable careers have become inaccessible. US commercial gaming revenue hit nearly $79 billion in 2025, with young adults driving significant growth — 32% of Gen Z and 24% of millennials participate in or are considering sports betting. While Sacks frames gambling as a rational response to economic frustration, research from UCLA, USC, and Harvard links online sports betting expansion to a 10–25% increase in bankruptcy rates among young adults. The piece balances Sacks' perspective with academic data on gambling addiction, regulatory trends, and the fintech industry's blurring of betting and investing language.