You're in an arena watching your favorite team win against their biggest rival. As you watch the ball in action on the field, your eyes wander to the outfield. There, a massive ad for FanDuel, an online sports book sits. During the next break in the play, you search it up on your phone after curiosity gets the best of you. You start to bet small, right then and there. But the more you win, the more you're willing to risk.
In a 2023 survey conducted by the National College Athletic Association (NCAA), nearly 60% of Americans between 18 and 22, college-aged students, have bet on sports and 67% of those students who live on campus place these bets. Furthermore, NCAA's shows that 4% of these individuals said they bet on sports every single day. Whether they are winning or losing, this is a lot of time and money spent on gambling.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), a gambling disorder is "a persistent, recurrent pattern of gambling that is associated with substantial distress or impairment."
With just the click of a thumb on a mobile app, a student is able to place a bet on a sports game in real-time. From baseball, to football and even professional darts, thousands of dollars can be won by gambling on games.
However, this often isn't the case. Not every bet placed is going to result in profit. Winning money from sports betting may seem easy, but losing money is even easier. After all, many bets placed are based entirely on luck and skill.
In 2018, a federal sports betting ban was lifted— and since then, almost $420 billion have been used to bet on sports. All of this money exiting the pockets of Americans and being poured into gambling companies begs the question: What are the long term implications of this form of gambling and why is it so widespread among college students?
Let’s face it, sports betting may seem appealing to younger generations. Online gambling has dominated American media in recent years since it is now widespread and easily accessible. The thrill of being able to win some extra cash may be what motivates students to place these bets. Yet this form of gambling is highly addictive, and students should be aware of how easy it is to get hooked.
Sports betting is appealing to younger generations because of instant results. When bets are placed, students will know if they have won money by the end of the game. Bettors also have the ability to wager at any point, not just at the beginning or during a break in the play, like a time out. Since many sports books are digital, the idea of being able to make money through a smart phone might drive people to start gambling, including students.
Companies are aware of how accessible sports betting is and use it as a selling point in marketing materials. When a student first sees one of these advertisements, their first thought may be the money. After all, it's easy to gain access to. With a log-in, a quick account set up and even a social security number, the world of sports betting is at anyone's hands. That is, if they are over the age of 18.
The legality of sports betting depends on the state. In the state of South Carolina, physical sports betting is not legal. But this may not discourage sports gamblers since they still have access to other online betting platforms that are considered "out-of-state."
Students might cross into a different state in order to place in-person bets. Or, if they want to use an app that is restricted in a certain state, there are ways around it. A student can use a VPN, or virtually private network. Users are able to protect their data and IP address, completely avoiding the gambling restrictions in a certain state.
Online gambling sites are advertised on social media, the radio and even during broadcasts of the sporting events themselves. Ads for sports gambling are now being showcased in the physical sports stadiums. If online betting isn't someone's preference, they might still be able to bet in person depending on the arena.
For many, this might be how gambling starts.
This habit of repetitive gambling is better known as one thing: addiction.
Watching sports is easy to love. After all, it is enjoyable and there is no better feeling than watching a favorite team win a favorite sport. However, imagine how good it feels to also be able to make money off of that team's win, or maybe even a specific shot they made during the game. This rush of satisfaction might cause a student's gambling habits to spiral.
Betting is dangerous for college students as they might not have a steady income — or even a career. Students also have other financial obligations to worry about such as loans. Gambling on sports might put them at risk for financial ruin, according to NBC News.
The APA states that an increased tolerance for gambling requires one to gamble even more in order to find satisfaction. This pattern of behavior is extremely similar to a dependency on substances, such as alcohol and drugs.
If a gambling disorder is as serious as any other addiction, then why is it not talked about? Why do students continue to sports bet? The answer: students may not be aware of how easy it is to get hooked.
In order to break a cycle of constant gambling, students should understand how it affects the brain. According to Yale Medicine, the human brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine when we engage in a satisfying behavior, such as eating. Dopamine releases in order to get us to want to eat again, since it is necessary for our survival.
A student may continue to want to sports bet if they are winning as their dopamine levels rise. Their behavior might become more risky as they increase the amount of money they bet on in order to chase that dopamine high, regardless of the outcome.
Even though sports betting is easy to get into because of its accessibility and its cultural integration in today's media, students may not understand and acknowledge the dangers. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, the line between fun and addiction can be hard to differ. It is important for students to understand the effects gambling can have on their future since they can literally lose everything with just the click of a button.
A great resource for students to learn how to healthily gamble is the National Council on Problem Gambling. The organization advocates for responsible gambling, educates on gambling disorders and develops media that promotes responsible gambling. They say that all things are good in moderation, but it is also entirely possible for addiction to overtake what was once a simple hobby.
USC's Center for Health and Well-Being is opened from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The center is located across from Russell House and takes walk-in counseling services at any time.
If you are a student who is struggling with gambling or knows a student who might be struggling with gambling, please reach out to the Center for Health and Well-Being. The center also has counseling support twenty four hours a day, seven days a week through the number 833-664-2854.
Remember, you are not alone.