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Did you know that according to the National Council on Problem Gambling, nearly 67% of college students bet on sports?Ìý ÌýThis figure doesn’t even include those who also bet on the lottery, card games, mobile games or casinos.ÌýÌý

If your student plans to place bets during March Madness, here are some tips, strategies and resources you can share to help them avoid risky behaviors and get help if needed.Ìý

1. Reflect on their habitsÌý

Gambling is not inherently wrong or bad. However, it is important to remember that gambling sites, games and apps are all designed to keep people betting. They do this by stimulating our brains’ reward center, much like alcohol and other drugs do, which can lead to addictive behaviors. Students can learn more about how their brains react to gambling wins and losses by reading the .Ìý

It’s also a good idea to check in with your student to talk about their betting or gambling habits. Ask them to think back over the past 12 months:Ìý

• Have you gambled more often or with more money?Ìý
• Have you withdrawn from relationships?Ìý
• Have you borrowed money to cover gambling debts?Ìý
• Do you hide your bets or gambling habits from others?Ìý
• Do you feel the urge to keep betting even when you’re losing?Ìý
• Has gambling caused you any health-related issues, including stress or anxiety?Ìý
• Have you ever felt guilty or remorseful about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?Ìý

If your student answered yes to these questions, it may be time to reassess your gambling habits. They can also take this to get help evaluating their current habits.

2. Practice safer playÌý

Setting limits around how much money and time we spend on gambling can help us avoid unwanted financial consequences. Here are some ways your student can mitigate their financial risks and significant losses:Ìý

Set time and money limits. Encourage your student to take advantage of the features available on gambling sites to help them monitor their play and know when they’ve gone over their time or money limit. Remind them to resist the urge to keep betting or playing once they’ve reached this limit.Ìý

Budget for gambling. Encourage your student to think about what they can reasonably afford to spend on gambling. This can help them set a budget and stick to it. If your student struggles to keep track of their spending, you may want to recommend that they remove their credit or debit card information from their phone or laptop so it can’t autofill on sites. Additionally, if they're going out somewhere to bet, they may want to leave their cards at home. Remind your student to never borrow money or use money that is intended for basic needs (e.g., rent and food) to place bets.Ìý

Know how it works. Encourage your student to research how a specific game or betting system works before they place any bets. For instance, some bets may depend on the outcome of the game, while others may rely on a point spread or games that will be decided in the future. Make sure your student knows what types of bets they’re making and how the system works to help reduce their risk of losing more than they expected.ÌýÌý

Bet only what you can afford to lose. All gambling comes with risk. Sometimes you’re up and sometimes you’re not. That’s why it’s important to help your student consider how much money they’re willing to lose before they start placing bets. Remind your student that if they lose their money, they should never try to win it back. This often results in bigger losses than they would have incurred if they had let the money go.Ìý

3. Find a balanceÌý

When students gamble for long periods of time, it can make it difficult to keep track of their time, money, schedules and life outside of betting. Encourage your student to step away regularly so they can clear their head and foster a healthier relationship with betting or gambling. Here are a few tips to help your student strike a balance between gambling and other activities:Ìý

• Balance recreational gambling with other hobbies or interests.Ìý
• Delete gambling apps from their phone, laptop and other devices.Ìý
• Consider removing their credit or debit card information from the ‘autofill’ function on their phone, computer or other devices.Ìý
• Set time limits or block sites that they'd like to spend less time on using software like or .Ìý
• Avoid betting or playing when their emotions are heightened (e.g., stressed, upset, angry, frustrated, etc.).Ìý
• Avoid gambling while under the influence of alcohol or other substances. This may cause them to take more risks than they normally would when betting.Ìý

4. Share your experiencesÌý

It’s common for people to be more open about their experiences when they result in success or winnings. However, it’s also important to address losses you may have experienced.ÌýÌý

Try to initiate open, honest and balanced conversations around sports betting and gambling with your students. Being vulnerable and sharing your real-life experiences with the highs and lows of sports betting can help your student identify habits or tactics that may need to change. It can also provide your student with insight into how others view gambling, what limits they have in place and how it impacts people’s lives differently. You can also encourage your student to have these types of conversations with their friends or roommates.Ìý

Here are a few questions you may ask when talking with your student:Ìý

• How does betting impact the enjoyment of watching sports for you?Ìý
• How risky do you believe sports betting is compared to other types of gambling?Ìý
• What types of sports do you bet on?Ìý
• How hard/easy is it to make money betting?Ìý
• Have you experienced any losses this year? What was it like?Ìý
• How do you see your relationship with betting changing over the next few years?Ìý

5. Seek supportÌý

When betting becomes problematic, it not only increases your student's financial risks, but it can also increase their risk of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and relationship issues.Ìý

Some people may also experience compulsive gambling. Compulsive gambling happens when someone has an uncontrollable urge to keep gambling despite the toll it takes on their life or finances. When someone is engaged in compulsive gambling, they tend to chase bets that lose more often, use up their savings, get into debt or resort to theft or fraud to fund their gambling habits.Ìý

If you’re concerned about how gambling is affecting your student, there are resources and programs available to help.Ìý