The start of football season brings concerns around student gambling

By Tyler Patchen

Kicking off the fall semester at Virginia Commonwealth University and other schools across the country also has ushered in the excitement of college football and the National Football League seasons.

It is a time when fans of all levels of the sport rush to the nearest stadium, television set or streaming service. However, it also means the presence of advertising by gambling companies that encourage betting on their platforms. As part of an effort to help educate new and returning students at VCU, Carolyn Hawley, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Counseling in the College of Health Professions, and executive director of the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, is sharing a message of caution.

Sports gambling laws for young people

First, students must be 21 years of age or older to gamble in person, online or on any app-based gaming site, such as DraftKings or FanDuel. However, according to Hawley, individuals under age 21, and even high school students, are turning to illegal sports betting sites or using accounts belonging to their parents or other family members.

"Saying no isn't going to stop that behavior," Hawley said. "So we want to create awareness of the risks."

Hawley said there is a belief that sports gambling, especially gambling on football, is more of a skill, and a team may hold a certain advantage. This could lead to viewing football betting as a financial investment rather than just gambling. She said it must be emphasized, especially for students, that this is an entertainment product and the house wins.

Limiting time on fantasy and gaming applications

Students should limit the time they spend on fantasy and gaming applications, as it could lead to increased spending.

Some safeguards that Hawley recommends include:

• Have a budget in place and stick to it.
• Allot your time and do not go over.

It is also necessary to identify the signs of addiction in yourself or other students such as:

• Late-night gambling.
• Missing classes and not studying.
• Using money for housing, food, books, and other necessities for gaming.

Catching these behaviors early is another key factor to help stamp out addiction.

Sports betting advertising warnings

Another major issue students will face this football season is the onslaught of advertisements for sportsbooks and gaming. Hawley noted the marketing of these apps and platforms will be intense, and some of it will be geared toward younger and college-aged people. Students may be lured into the apps through promotions or other incentives. Also, if any students are sports fans, they will find it extremely difficult to avoid advertisements.

According to Hawley, one way to combat this is for students to become more "critical consumers" of the messages these advertisements broadcast.

"It is embedded in the current sports experience from broadcasts, team sponsorships, social media and other digital spaces they use every day," she said. "Students need to understand industry promotions such as deposit matches, bonus bets, odds boosts and other incentives are strategies designed to get us to open an account, place a bet and continue playing. They are not free money."

An increase in female gamblers

According to Hawley, 77% of callers to the Virginia Problem Gambling helpline have been male. However, Hawley is seeing an uptick in college-aged women and female students. She says women who may not have had an interest in sports previously are being lured into sports by friends and acquaintances as sports become a more normal activity on campuses across the commonwealth.

Hawley's research efforts into sports betting and college students

While students will have a lot to look out for this football season, the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health is continuing its research into the effects on younger populations, including college students. Hawley's research on "Sports Betting and Wellness Behaviors of College Students" is a recipient of VCU Quest Fund support.

"If college students are gambling, and we know they are, it's important to understand how they're gambling and how they're getting involved with it," Hawley said. "We have an extensive survey, but we're also doing focus groups, so we have a better understanding of what this data means from the students."

Hawley will plan to develop more awareness and highlight the harms that gambling can cause for students. She also intends to help frame the discussions around substance use to include gambling. Also, getting information into the hands of parents, as well as helping monitor spending accounts and understand the risks of gambling, are key factors for awareness.

For those seeking help for themselves or for someone they know, fill out the VGPH referral form or call the Virginia Problem Gambling Helpline at 888-532-3500.

This story was originally published on the College of Health Professions website.