That is to say, they’ve made campuses resemble elements of the world famous casinos by introducing online gambling to students.Ĭollege betting scandals shine light on campus wagering. A New York Times investigation found that sports betting companies and universities have essentially “Caesarized” college life. Sports betting is also becoming more accessible on college campuses. It has generated about $3.9 billion in tax revenue to date.

gaming sectors has increased significantly, with sports betting growing the fastest, at an estimated 75% annually. More than US$268 billion has been gambled legally on sports betting between June 2018 and November 2023. Anyone can access it online and on their smartphone.

Thanks to technology, sports betting is now accessible beyond casinos.

These states include Vermont, Missouri and North Carolina. Bills have been introduced – and some recently passed – in more states. Further, 26 states allow sports betting online. It is all the more urgent given that adolescents in general, including college students, are often uniquely susceptible to gambling problems, both because of their exposure to video games – which often have hallmarks of gambling behavior – and the stress and anxiety of college life, which can lead to using gambling as a coping strategy.Īs of November 2023, sports betting is legal in some form in 38 states and Washington, D.C.

Sports betting continues to expand, including on college campuses, since a 2018 Supreme Court ruling allowing states to make it legal.Īs a faculty fellow at an institute that promotes responsible gaming, I know that colleges can take steps to curtail problem gambling among students. The portion of college students with a problem, however, is potentially twice that number – up to 6%.Īs an educational psychologist who follows gambling in America, I foresee the potential for gambling on campus to become an even bigger problem. Three out of four college students have gambled in the past year, whether legally or illegally, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.Īn estimated 2% to 3% of U.S.

Gamble online legally united states