JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A new study reveals your college students may be facing a challenge that isn\u2019t on your radar.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve done a really good job in the public health and higher ed communities about addressing some of the more pressing issues among students – which tend to be mental health and then alcohol, drug use, and other substance use,\u201d said Hannah Allen, Executive Director of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi.<\/p>\n
However, not as much attention goes to gambling addictions. <\/p>\n
Allen was a member on the Ole Miss team of researchers who found that gambling is more prevalent than you may realize across Mississippi\u2019s college campuses. <\/p>\n
The study shows 39% of students gambled in a variety of formats in the past year.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents are facing real consequences,\u201d Allen added. \u201cSo, those are both financial consequences, but also consequences related to decreased academic success and also some mental health issues as well. We need to address that in similar ways that we\u2019ve addressed other pressing health and social issues among our students.\u201d<\/p>\n
Researchers were surprised by one finding. <\/p>\n
Students were playing the lottery and betting on cards slightly more than sports. <\/p>\n
The majority of students who admitted to sports betting said they do so online, despite sports betting currently being illegal in the Magnolia State if not on casino premises. <\/p>\n
Allen said the new accessibility of gambling creates additional challenges.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seeing that these technologies of how students are able to gamble are built to make them gamble more and to incentivize them to continue to gamble as they\u2019re inside these apps and websites,\u201d Allen explained. \u201cAnd we\u2019re also seeing that they\u2019re really inundated with a lot of advertising.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a certain group that is noted to be gambling more than others.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose that are involved in some sort of sports, those that are involved in Greek life, and then our male students, as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s an expectation that lawmakers will again debate whether or not to legalize mobile sports betting in the 2026 legislative session.<\/p>\n
Want more WLBT news in your inbox? Click here<\/a> to subscribe to our newsletter.<\/p>\n