Help for College Students

Gambling & College Students

Students today have lived their entire lives with legalized gambling. Society has become more and more accepting of gambling. Whether it is playing poker in a dorm room or betting on the internet, there are many opportunities for students to gamble—legal and illegal.

Most people can participate in gambling activities without developing any problems. For most college students, gambling is a recreational activity; it is fun and does not have any negative effects on the student’s life. For others, it can develop into problem or pathological gambling.

How does gambling affect college students? Some of the following consequences can occur with problem or pathological gambling:

• Spend money they don't have
• Max out credit cards
• Lie to family and friends
• Borrow and steal from others
• Use other people's credit cards without permission
• Argue with family and friends about gambling
• Lose scholarship and job opportunities
• Commit crimes to gamble or pay off losses
• Fail or drop out of school
• Become depressed and have suicidal thoughts

Why is problem gambling an issue with college students?

• Problem gamblers can be of either gender and from any ethnic, social, or economic group.
• A person with a current or past problem with any substance is at higher risk for developing a gambling problem.
• An estimated 4–8 percent of college students are classified as problem gamblers, and about another 10–14 percent are at risk of developing a gambling problem.
• About 85 percent of college students have been involved in some form of gambling, and 23 percent report being involved on a weekly basis.
• Problem gamblers ages 18–25 lose an average of $30,000 per year and have about $20,000 to $25,000 in credit card debt.
• About 29 percent of college students will bet on sports this year.

Reasons College Students Gamble

• Students are not afraid to take risks
• Increased campus proximity to casinos
• It’s entertainment
• To add excitement to sporting events
• The promise of quick riches
• Fascination with the stroke of luck
• Natural adrenaline‑induced high
• Availability of easy credit
• Accessibility of ATM machines

Athletes

Gambling can be particularly concerning for college athletes who are already competitive. The NCAA rules outline that student‑athletes may not place any bets of any sort on college or professional sports and that no information may be provided to anyone who does place bets on college or professional sports. It is estimated that over 40% of male student‑athletes gamble on sports and over 70% of student‑athletes have gambled since entering college.

• The FBI estimates more than $2.5 billion is wagered illegally on March Madness.
• According to the NCAA’s 2003 gambling survey, about 35 percent of male student‑athletes and 10 percent of female student‑athletes reported wagering on sporting events.
• Although athletes and non‑athletes gamble about the same frequency, about twice as many athletes are problem gamblers.
• One out of every 20 male student‑athletes admitted providing inside information for gambling purposes, betting on a game they participated in, or accepting money for purposelessly performing poorly in a game.
• About 28 percent of athletes have gambled on athletic events.

The NCAA has a website to help educate student‑athletes, coaches, administrators, and the public about NCAA rules on sports wagering: www.dontbetonit.org.

The Florida Council on Problem Gambling has more resources and information available.

Signs of Problem Gambling

More than six million Americans are addicted to gambling. Problem gambling among college students is characterized by:

• Gambling for long hours or with more money than intended.
• Lying to friends and family about gambling.
• Borrowing money frequently to gamble.
• Grades dropping due to preoccupation with gambling.
• Unable to stay awake in class from late nights of gambling.
• Wins and losses create mood swings.
• Gambling to escape life’s hassles and stressors.
• Arguing with family and friends about your gambling.
• Using tuition, scholarship, or book money to pay gambling debts.
• Increasing gambling to try to win back money lost.

Problem gambling among friends and loved ones may be seen by:

• Unexplained absences from school or classes.
• Sudden drop in grades.
• Change of personality.
• Possession of a large amount of money; brags about winnings.
• An unusual interest in newspapers, magazines, or periodicals having to do with horseracing.
• An intense interest in gambling conversations.
• Exaggerated display of money and/or material possessions.
• Visible changes in behavior (e.g., mood changes, behavior problems, etc.).
• Increased use of gambling language, including the word “bet” in conversation.

If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, call 1‑800‑994‑8448.