College Student Sports Betting May Cause Mental Health Problems: Study

Sports betting was the most popular form of gambling among college students, which researchers say may be because of their familiarity with the games.

The findings of a new study warn that sports betting has become the primary gambling mechanism among young adults, with college-aged gamblers more likely to experience higher levels of stress, anxiety and depression than their peers.

Published in the July issue of the Custech International Journal of Education, the research surveyed 150 students at the University of Benin and found that nearly 40% reported gambling, with those students showing higher rates of mental health concerns.

These findings come amid increasing concerns over the impacts of sports betting worldwide, as online sportsbooks and polymarkets have exploded in popularity in recent years.

Sports Betting Addiction Concerns

In the U.S., sports betting became legal in 2019, following a Supreme Court opinion that allowed each state to decide for itself whether gambling on sports would be legal. As of this year, 39 states, plus Washington, D.C., allow legal sports betting, with 30 of those, and D.C., legalizing online sportsbooks. The remaining nine states only allow in-person wagering.

With the rise in legalization, online sports betting sites like DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM have substantially grown in popularity. However, their expansion has been accompanied by mounting reports of gambling addiction, particularly among young, college-aged men.

Critics claim that the sites use aggressive and deceptive promotions, algorithms that detect, analyze and psychologically profile users, and illegal operations and marketing in states where sports gambling laws have not been passed. Instead of flagging potential problem gamblers and warning them of their pattern of activity, the sites are accused of using the data to exploit compulsive behavior, urging clearly addicted gamblers into making more frequent, and higher, wagers.

Research has consistently shown that young men are disproportionately affected by sports betting addiction, with losses often escalating quickly before parents, schools or others realize there is a problem. Many are away from home and learning to manage their finances for the first time. Additionally, they tend to be more comfortable making quick online transactions after growing up with mobile apps and digital payments.

A growing number of these young men, and other consumers, are now filing sports betting addiction lawsuits, claiming that the online sportsbooks are intentionally leading them into gambling addiction, causing self-destructive habits and social and financial harm for the sake of profits.

College Sports Betting Study

In the new study, Drs. Edith Omorionmwen Omogbai and Gloria Esiekpe Osagie-Obazee, of the University of Benin in Nigeria, conducted a survey of 150 randomly selected full-time undergraduate students.

According to the findings, the aggregate prevalence of gambling among the students was 39.33%, which researchers said was “moderately high.” Of those, 44% participated in sports betting, 25% participated in card games and 22% in dice games, in addition 16% played the lottery and 14% wagered on casino games.

The researchers noted that the findings mirror those of other recent studies which found similar sports betting rates. They note that many university students participate in sports and feel familiar enough with how certain sports work that they think it gives them an advantage in selecting wagers.

For those students who showed signs of gambling addiction, researchers found they suffered a significantly higher rate of mental health problems, including stress, emotional instability, depression-like symptoms and poor academic outcomes.

“(T)he study found a significant difference in the mental health outcomes between students who gamble and those who do not. This implies that gambling has a real effect on students’ psychological health, possibly making problems with stress, anxiety, and general mental health worse.”

– Drs. Edith Omorionmwen Omogbai and Gloria Esiekpe Osagie-Obazee, University of Benin

The researchers recommended educational institutions, particularly universities, add gambling awareness programs to their orientation programs. Additionally, they urged counselors to be given specialized training in identifying and addressing gambling addiction.

Sports Betting Addiction Lawsuits

The findings come as a growing number of DraftKings lawsuits and FanDuel lawsuits are being filed in courts nationwide, highlighting how college sports betting addiction problems are causing devastating losses among young adults.

Each involves allegations that online sportsbooks use sophisticated data analytics and behavioral algorithms to monitor users’ betting habits and deliver personalized promotions intended to encourage more frequent wagering and larger bets.

Sports betting addiction settlements are being pursued for individuals across the U.S. who suffered substantial financial losses allegedly linked to the marketing practices, promotional incentives and engagement features used by major online sportsbooks.

Lawsuits are being investigated involving a number of online wagering platforms, including:

Individuals who believe they may have developed a gambling addiction or suffered significant financial harm after using one of these platforms can request a free case evaluation to determine whether they may be eligible to pursue a sports betting lawsuit. Attorneys handling these cases work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront legal fees and compensation is owed only if a recovery is obtained.

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