Playing the odds: Sports betting popular among NC students, but therapists warn of potential addiction
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Mobile sports betting is less than a month away from being legal and available across North Carolina. Many sports fans are excited, but experts say in some people, it can go from a hobby to an addiction.
These days, when college students talk about sports, there’s a chance they may already have money on the line.
NC sports betting to start just before March Madness, lottery commission decides
CBS 17 spoke with a group of college students, many of whom use a daily fantasy sports app called PrizePicks, which is legal in North Carolina.
“You’re picking a player, and you’re betting on their pass yard line, and a rush yard line, a touchdown,” explained Peter Tummarello, who is so passionate about sports betting that he recently wrote a paper about it.
Luke Wilson added, “I’m on it every day. How much I put down on a day just depends on how I’m feeling.”
They are not alone.
Dr. Michelle Malkin, an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and the Director of the Gambling Research and Policy Initiative at East Carolina University, and her colleague, Dr. Michele Stacey, are conducting a study of gambling behavior among undergraduates in the UNC System. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is funding the study.
According to Malkin, a preliminary analysis of 1,661 responses showed that 10% of the students who were surveyed gamble on sports.
What to expect as sports betting begins in North Carolina
“It makes the games more entertaining,” said college student, Dylan Byard. “If it’s a blowout, one of your bets could still be potentially hitting.”
Of course, a chance to make money, through any type of gaming, also means a chance to lose it.
“A lot of people lose a lot of money,” said Luke Wilson. “It’s pretty rare to make a lot of money on it, honestly.”
That’s why the students who spoke with CBS 17 emphasized the importance of quitting before they lose more than they can afford.
“A lot of students can get their hands on apps, put money in, and get addicted to it if you’re not careful,” warned student Justin Ratliff.
“You have to draw a line in the sand,” Tummarello added.
While most people can walk away, some have trouble, and whether it’s seen as betting, gambling, or just having a little fun on an app, experts warn some people can become addicted.
Malkin said the preliminary results of their survey show thatnearly 13% of male college students and approximately 1.5% percent of female college students are at risk for Gambling disorder in North Carolina.
Carole Cox is a licensed marriage and family therapist with Thriveworks in Cary, who counsels young people struggling with gambling.
NC to launch sports betting with global gaming firm’s help
She explained that habits often begin at a young age.
“It starts off innocently…little phone games you can put in, apps you can get,” she said. “You associate good feelings with getting a reward.”
Going from online rewards to actual money may not feel like a big leap.
“If you poll adolescents, two thirds of them between 12 and 18 have gambled or played a gambling-type game in the previous year,” Cox said. “They all promise instant reward, instant pay out, quick deposit in your bank account if you engage in these types of games.”
For college students, she said fitting in with friends comes into play, as does biology.
“Development of your brain, too, has a huge factor in this, so your logic center of your brain, or your prefrontal cortex, is not fully wired,” she noted. “That part of our brain is responsible for helping us make good decisions, delaying gratification, understanding that there’s consequences.”
Because college students constantly use cell phones or computers, a compulsion to gamble can be easy to hide for a while, but at some point, Cox said the consequences will be hard to ignore.
“You’re not paying your tuition; you’re spending so much time on the activity that you’re cutting classes, your grades are slipping, you’re much more withdrawn than normal. You’re experiencing some depression from it, so someone else notices. That’s usually when we see people wanting to get help,” she said.
Therapists encourage parents to keep an eye on any concerning behavior or financial issues, and they urge students to look out for each other
“Do you know kids who do it too much?” CBS 17 asked Ratliff. “Yes, I do,” he responded. “It’s a common thing; people just get into it. They’ll lose [and] the next time, they think they’re gonna keep winning and winning.”
“I can see people doing it once and saying, ‘Oh I’ll never do this again,’ and they end up doing it constantly,” added Byard.
While many people use phones for gambling, Cox says several online apps can also offer help with problem gambling, including BetBlocker, Gamban, and Gambless. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, the term “problem gambling” is used when a person’s gambling behaviors begin disrupting their life. Symptoms include gambling in secret, not being able to walk away and gambling away money intended for rent, bills, etc.
With more sites becoming accessible in North Carolina starting next month—with more betting options and even bigger limits—the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is responding.
“In preparation for the launch of sports betting, we have refocused our prevention programs and our education program for treatment providers has focused heavily on sports betting,” read a statement from NCDHHS, which went on to say, “The law allocates an additional $2 million in the state budget to help prevent, treat, and provide services related to problem gambling.”
The North Carolina Problem Gambling Program offers counseling and peer support. The North Carolina Problem Gambling Helpline can be reached at 877-718-5543, and NCDHHS says it is working to ensure the helpline can handle an increase in calls.
“We also started a partnership with EPIC Risk Management, an NCAA funded organization, to provide prevention education on college campuses to athletes and students about the risks associated with sports betting,” the statement from NCDHHS continued.
More signs to look out for when it comes to problem gambling, according to NCDHHS include:
Using sports betting to relieve stress or depressive feelings
Spending increasing amounts of time or money on gambling
Preoccupation and irritability when trying to cut back or not gambling
Placing bets on credit or with money allocated for other things
Chasing losses (gambling to earn back money that was lost gambling)
Lying or being secretive about gambling
Attempting to cut back without success
Only talking about wins, and never losses
Anyone in need of more resources in North Carolina surrounding problem gambling can find more through the state’s Problem Gambling Program website.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com.
