Share 
West Virginia University experts are warning that sports betting can carry especially harsh consequences for college students, from mental health strain to missed classes and academic decline.
In a report published by The Daily Athenaeum, WVU Carruth Center outreach coordinator Sara DiSimone said college students are often more willing to take risks without fully considering the consequences. She said gambling can be highly reinforcing and trigger dopamine responses similar to those associated with substances or other rewarding behaviors.
A 2023 NCAA survey cited in the story found that 67% of students living on college campuses are active sports bettors.
WVU experts point to mental health and academic harms
DiSimone said sports betting can worsen depression and anxiety, while also leading to isolation and panic when losses build. She added that once gambling becomes a priority, students may begin dropping other responsibilities.
According to the report, that can include skipping class, failing to turn in assignments and spending more time focused on bets.
The article also noted how easy mobile betting has become. DiSimone said sports betting is now mainstream and available "at our fingertips," a level of access that can make repeated wagering harder to avoid.
Loss chasing and ad exposure add to the risk
Matt Mullis, a WVU economics PhD candidate with experience working at the WVU Gaming and Research Center, said bettors should understand the basic economics of the market.
"This is a losing game, and casinos are doing well for a reason," Mullis said in the report.
The story cited BettorEdge data stating that roughly 97% of sports bettors lose money, while the 2% to 3% who do profit rarely make enough to live comfortably. Mullis also described "loss chasing" as increasing bet size after losses in an effort to win money back, a pattern that can deepen problems quickly.
He added that betting promotions are difficult to avoid, pointing to common ads from companies such as DraftKings and PrizePicks across sports content and YouTube.
For West Virginia readers, the report is not about a change in state law or sportsbook access. Instead, it highlights the risks tied to the growing normalization of sports betting among college-age users. The article included the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-697-3738.
—
Source: As reported by Maxie Brock.
