While pathological gambling is a problem that affects relatively few student-athletes, it is nonetheless a persistent health concern for some individuals: 1.9 percent of males and 0.2 percent of female student-athletes are exhibiting some clinical signs of problem gambling, placing them at extremely high risk for mental health issues.

Results of a 2012 study that the NCAA commissioned found that 57 percent of male student-athletes and 39 percent of female student-athletes reported gambling in some form during the past year, with those student-athletes in Division I reporting the lowest incidence of gambling (50 percent for males 30 percent for females). Generally, the social and problem gambling experiences of college student-athletes are similar to those of other youth gamblers. However, for a small but identifiable subset of youth, gambling can quickly escalate out of control and affect both psychological and physical well-being.Įxcessive, problematic or pathological gambling has been repeatedly shown to result in consequences that can include deviant anti-social behaviors, decreased academic performance, impaired athletics performance, and criminal and legal problems. Most individuals gamble legally, occasionally and in a generally responsible manner (that is, setting and maintaining time and money limits). While age restrictions exist in most jurisdictions (the age often is dependent upon the type of gambling), it is an activity in which many colleges students participate. Gambling remains one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with multinational corporations investing billions of dollars to attract customers.

Sports betting and casinos