Problem Gambling on College Campuses

The vast majority of college students gamble, with some doing so problematically. This article discusses gambling and problem gambling among college students, framing it as an emerging health issue on college campuses nationwide. Given that 4 out of 5 college students admit to gambling, and that approximately 8% gamble problematically, it is imperative that student affairs professionals be familiar with the literature and be prepared to address, and ideally help prevent, gambling-related issues and their attendant problems on college campuses. This article summarizes briefly what is known about college student gambling and problem gambling, discusses the range of gambling problems that exist, and, in the end, offers seven recommendations for addressing this important, yet largely overlooked student health issue. It also offers a few recommendations for future research