Student Health Services

Gambling among college students is on the rise. This is of particular concern, due to the fact that college students develop gambling problems at about twice the rate of other adults.

Quick Facts

• 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.

Gambling Among Athletes

• 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.

Internet Gambling

• There are more than 1,400 Internet gambling sites on the Web.
• Internet gambling is the fastest growing part of the gambling industry.
• The United States has no regulations or control over Internet gambling.

Information provided by the Wellness Resource Center and Partners in Prevention