Frequently Asked Questions

This section is designed to help campus administrators prepare to answer questions that arise as you confront the challenge of addressing college gambling on your campuses.

Why is it important to address college gambling through campus programs?

College gambling programs are vital for preventing and combating gambling addiction at an early age. Studies have shown that teenagers and college-aged young adults are more impulsive and at higher risk for developing gambling disorders than adults. While most college students who gamble do so responsibly, the most recent research estimates that 6 percent of college students in the U.S. have a serious gambling problem that can result in psychological difficulties, unmanageable debt and failing grades.

How is college gambling related to other risky behaviors?

Gambling disorder can be associated with numerous negative consequences and are highly correlated with other risky behaviors in the college student population. Students who use tobacco, drink heavily or binge drink, smoke marijuana or use other illegal drugs, drive under the influence or have a low GPA are more likely to gamble.

How common are college gambling policies on campuses in the U.S.?

While 75 percent of college students gambled during the past year (whether legally or illegally), only 22 percent of U.S. colleges and universities have formal policies on gambling.

Is college gambling more common on campuses now than in the past?

Based on the most recent estimates, it appears that college students are gambling more. A 2010 study estimates that 75 percent gambled in the past year. A study published in 2003 estimated that 42 percent gambled in the past year. Keep in mind, however, that students have always gambled as far back as the 19th century.

Do schools in states with casinos have bigger gambling problems than those in states without them?

There is no evidence in the existing research to suggest this is the case. Research does show, however, that approximately 75 percent of college students gambled in the past year, wagering money on poker, the lottery, sports and a variety of other games. Teens and college students are gambling, so it’s important for higher education institutions to put in place science-based policies and programs to address this reality.

What liability issues could arise for colleges as a result of students gambling illegally on campus?

If a student is physically injured or racks up debt because of gambling, universities could face liability issues. Consult with your school’s general counsel about these issues. The compliance of college and university students with local, state, and federal laws concerning illegal gambling activities should be enforced and addressed through collaborative ventures among campus and local law enforcement agencies and campus administrators.

How can the implementation of college gambling policies have a positive effect on other campus problems?

Schools that have published gambling policies and published policies prohibiting on-campus legal-aged drinking and/or prohibiting alcohol at on-campus events have significantly lower binge drinking rates than those without such gambling and alcohol-related policies in place.

What are the most frequently chosen gambling activities for college students?

By gambling activity:

  • Lottery: 43 percent
  • Card Games: 38 percent
  • Office pools, raffles, charitable small stakes gambling: 38 percent
  • Sports betting: 23 percent
  • Games of skill—e.g., bowling, basketball, pool, golf, backgammon, darts: 20 percent
  • Casino gambling: 15 percent
  • Bingo: 13 percent
  • Slot machines, poker machines and other gambling machines: 10 percent
  • Dice games: 8 percent

References

Barnes, G. M., Welte, J. W., Hoffman, J. H., & Tidwell, M. C. (2010). Comparisons of gambling and alcohol use among college students and noncollege young people in the United States. Journal of American College Health, 58(5), 443-452.

Chambers. R.A., Potenza, M.N. (2003). Neurodevelopment, impulsivity, and adolescent gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 19(1), 53-84.

Kessler, R.C., Hwang, I., LaBrie. R., et al. (2008). DSM-IV pathological gambling in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Psychological Medicine, 38(9), 1351-1360.

LaBrie, R.A., Shaffer, H.J., LaPlante, D.A., Wechsler, H. (2003). Correlates of college student gambling in the United States. The Journal of American College Health, 52(2), 53-62.

Ladouceur, R., Dube, D., Bujold. A. (1994). Prevalence of pathological gambling and related problems among college students in the Quebec metropolitan area. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 39(5):289-293.

Lesieur, H.R., Cross, J., Frank, M.L., et al. (1991). Gambling and pathological gambling among university students. Addictive Behaviors, 16, 517-527.

Shaffer, H.J., Donato, A.N., LaBrie, R.A., Kidman, R.C., LaPlante, D.A. (2005). The epidemiology of college alcohol and gambling policies. Harm Reduction Journal, 2(1), 1.

Shaffer, H.J., Hall, M.N., Vander Bilt, J. (1997). Estimating the Prevalence of Disordered Gambling Behavior in the United States and Canada: A Meta-analysis. Boston: Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College.

Shaffer, H.J., Hall, M.N., Vander Bilt, J. (1999). Estimating the prevalence of disordered gambling behavior in the United States and Canada: a research synthesis. American Journal of Public Health, 89(9), 1369-1376.

Stuhldreher, W.L., Stuhldreher, T.J., Forrest, K. (2007). Gambling as an emerging health problem on campus. Journal of American College Health, 56(1), 75-83.

Welte, J.W., Barnes, G.M., Tidwell, M.C., Hoffman, J.H. (2008). The prevalence of problem gambling among U.S. adolescents and young adults: results from a national survey. Journal of Gambling Studies, 24(2), 119-133.

Winters, K.C. (2008). Adolescent Brain Development and Drug Abuse. Philadelphia: Treatment Research Institute.

Winters, K.C., Stinchfield, R.D., Botzet, A., Anderson, N. (2002). A prospective study of youth gambling behaviors. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 16(1), 3-9.

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