Some Experts Concerned With College Student Sports Betting
The growth of online sports betting has had a major impact on college life in recent years, according to reports, with gambling becoming an increasing part of many students’ lives.
Some experts are reporting that the ease of wagering has made the practice second nature among a mobile phone-focused generation, and some are feeling the effects of problem gambling.
Evan Ozmat, a doctoral student in psychology at the University at Albany, launched a counseling project in 2020 to work with undergraduate students about health issues. However, gambling turned out to be a common topic.
“Since the beginning of the project three years ago, students have brought up, unprompted, gambling,” Ozmat told Time magazine. “We started asking about it in every appointment and everyone has something to say. It’s everywhere.”
Some experts have compared the newfound prevalence of on-campus betting to binge drinking. A recent study from the NCAA took a look at Americans ages 18 to 22 to study their gambling habits. The survey found that 60% have bet on sports with 4% admitting to wagering daily.
Another 6% reported losing more than $500 in a single day. Two-thirds of men have engaged in sports betting activities, according to the survey, as well as 51% of women.
Surprisingly, the legality of betting apparently wasn’t a factor. “Respondents living in areas where betting is legal versus those in areas where betting is illegal report taking part in each sports betting activity at nearly the same rate,” the report noted.
Reports estimate that as many as one in 10 college students are problem gamblers. Some students point to the positive aspects that come with betting, such as sustaining friendships, a love for sports, and staying invested with the on-field action.
Additionally, some note that many students do indeed bet responsibly. In the NCAA survey, about 60% of those who wagered reported betting in amounts of $20 or less. However, health experts believe this is a segment of the population to watch as sports betting continues to grow in popularity.
“It becomes a normal embedded part of the culture and that has huge implications,” clinical professor of psychiatry and head of UCLA’s gambling studies program Dr. Timothy Fong recently told Business Insider. “We’ve allowed it, but have we then kept up with educating that generation about what this activity really is?”
The American Gaming Association has recently pointed to the growth of the industry in recent years. The group predicted a record number of NFL bettors for the current season and pointed to sports wagering as major driver of record revenue for the gaming industry.
