Something that is hidden in the dark on college campuses, which is been on the rise in our own community is the presence of sports betting. College students are the group with the highest risk for gambling addictions, and it can be remedied with policies to avoid it.
While it may seem like something that is not too bad, it is quickly becoming evident is how addictive it may be.
Other college campuses are slow to impliment guidelines about betting on games, but Northwestern is not.
“The intent of gambling is contradictory to Biblical standards and the philosophy of life at Northwestern,” said the 2024-2025 Student Handbook, “Thus, it is not to be tolerated on campus and can lead to disciplinary action.”
NW is not the only place with a policy on sports betting, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) had a campaign that prioritises student-athlete education on how sports betting affects everyone who participates in it.
Yet, there are also campuses that use the growing problem by advertising the betting websites on their stadiums and in their athletic websites.
The National Association for Intercolligiete Athletics (NAIA)handbook has no policies against sports betting, gambling, or wages on games, however that does not give NW students the ability to do so.
This policy that NW has does not stop roughly 20% of all students of age from betting. Wagering on fantasy teams is also technically a form of sports betting, which might push the percentage up to approximatly 35%.
In a study done by the NCAA in 2023 among college students aged 18 to 22 year olds, approximatly 67% engage in sports betting in some form.
According to “The Atlantic” about one in every three Americans bet on sports, and prior to 2018, sports gambling was banned in most places.
It is now legal in 38 states, and yields $10 billion a year in revenue.
Sports betting went online in the 1990s and it has changed immensely. It is also one of the oldest forms of wagering in the world.
It started out with races and fights, and has since changed into more organized sports events.
According to Britannica, it is defined as a “form of gambling that involves wagering on sports.”
Sports betting became popular due to the fact that it taps into the passion that fans have toward their chosen sport.
When one does it in a competition with friends, it can bring about a sense of camraderie and can help liven up boring contests.
