This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Adolescent Betting Behavior Assessment Scale (ABBAS) and investigate its applicability in measuring problematic betting behavior and associated psychological distress among adolescents in Ghana. Using a cross-sectional design, a total of 500 adolescents, aged 12 to 19 years, participated in the study. The findings highlight the scale’s utility in counseling settings and its role in identifying adolescents at risk of developing gambling-related issues. Results indicated strong internal consistency for the subscales (Cronbach’s α = 0.75 to 0.82) and total scale (α = 0.85), with significant correlations with related behavioral constructs such as risk-taking, general betting severity, and academic performance (p < .001). The scale demonstrated robust criterion validity with positive correlations to the Gambling Behavior Scale (GBS) and Risk-Taking Scale (RTS), and negative correlations with academic performance (GPA), confirming its utility in capturing adolescent betting behaviors. These findings underscore the importance of developing culturally relevant and reliable assessment tools to guide counselors in identifying and addressing problematic gambling behaviors in the adolescent population. Again, the results showed significant reductions in the frequency of betting (34.29%) and emotional distress (35.48%) with large effect sizes (Cohen’s d = 0.79 and 0.85). Additionally, impulsivity decreased by 27.59%, highlighting the scale’s ability to track cognitive and emotional changes associated with problematic betting behaviors. Finally, the findings revealed substantial decreases in anxiety (17.3%) and depression (24.32%) following interventions, with large effect sizes (d = 0.69 to 0.82). These reductions indicate that the scale is sensitive to changes in both gambling-related behaviors and general psychological distress. The implications for counseling practice emphasized the need for evidence-based interventions that integrate both behavioral and emotional aspects of gambling, as well as the value of group-based support strategies in school and community settings.