Gambling – Don’t Bet On It
The annual Super Bowl pool is one thing. It's just a game, right? Making a habit of gambling is quite another, causing growing numbers of financial and legal nightmares for college students trying to make some quick money.
Why gamble? Well, it can be fun – an entertaining diversion, with the excitement of competition and the thrill of winning. Why do some students keep doing it? It’s a way to socialize. Well, maybe not buying lottery tickets, but that’s another bad habit. People think they can rely on gambling as an easy source of income. After all, jobs may be scarce or a work schedule may interfere with your course schedule. But gambling can interfere big time, wreaking havoc on your academic standing and financial security. The odds are rarely in your favor, and if you’re running games you risk legal penalties and getting kicked out of school. Gambling addiction among college students is associated with increased substance abuse and other risky behaviors, depression, and credit card debt. Some players wind up with lifelong addictions to gambling. Don’t be a casualty of gambling addiction.
High-stakes poker games, online poker tournaments, casino trips, visits to the race track or off-track betting parlors, and sports betting are all popular diversions. Online games are so accessible and televised tournaments help boost their appeal. Just remember that you have to pay to play, and pay and pay…
Just like other addictions, gambling addiction is an illness. If you find you’re susceptible and are headed for trouble, seek counseling. Your school’s health center is a good place to start. To identify whether you may have a gambling problems, answer these 20 Questions. Read about the growing problem of college student gambling addiction.