Gambling Remains a Growing Concern for Young People in Connecticut

A recent study by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services highlights the growing prevalence of gambling among college students and the harms it can cause.

Issues Continue with the Problem Gambling Among College/Uni Students in Connecticut

The research focused on students at 12 public community colleges and found that gambling-related harm is widespread. Overall, University of Connecticut researchers reported that about 70% of roughly 1,200 students surveyed across public and private institutions in 2023 had gambled in the previous 12 months—a sign that gambling has become a common activity among young adults.

Diana Goode, executive director of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, says the situation has worsened since the study. Calls to the council’s 24/7 helpline have increasingly come from younger people, including college students, particularly since legalized sports betting and online gambling became available in Connecticut in 2021.

To tackle the issue, a new bill in the Connecticut Senate proposes that public colleges and universities offer an on-campus problem gambling program at least once per academic year.

A New Bill Outlines Further Action on Problem Gambling on Student Campuses

The programs would provide students with information about campus and community resources for treatment and rehabilitation, and could be offered in partnership with non-profit organizations. Institutions would be required to prioritize organizations funded by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, such as the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, when establishing these programs.

Senator Derek Slap, chair of the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee, called the bill “a modest first step” in addressing problem gambling among college students.

Goode noted that the typical profile of a problem gambler has shifted dramatically: “We used to think the problem gambler was the little old lady at the slot machine. Now, it is the 20-something male betting on sports. A lot of those are college students, and the number of calls we get from these students and their parents has skewed all our figures; it’s over 50%.”