This session explores innovative approaches to prevent problem gambling among college students, highlighting peer-led campaigns, campus-based initiatives, and public awareness strategies. Presenters will share real-world examples from Oregon, Connecticut, Maryland, and Ohio, focusing on the risks of sports betting, student engagement, mental health impacts, and community-based prevention efforts. Attendees will gain actionable insights into effective collaborations with athletes, institutions, and state agencies to reduce gambling-related harm and promote healthy campus environments
This session delves into VOA Oregon’s “Don’t Let the Game Play You” campaign, a peer-driven initiative that engages college athletes to raise awareness about the risks of sports betting. By leveraging their leadership and influence, the campaign empowers athletes to make informed decisions and foster discussions about sports betting risks and available resources within their teams and communities. Program staff and a college athlete will highlight the process of campaign development, providing the audience with actionable strategies for developing peer-driven initiatives that can be broadened across other prevention efforts.
Research shows that 73% of students in Connecticut report engaging in at least one type of gambling in the last year. Students gambling daily and weekly are engaged in fantasy sports, sports betting and internet gambling. This presentation will provide an overview of the College Campus Gambling Prevention Initiative in Connecticut. The goal of this program is to design and promote activities that are evidence informed to educate students and raise awareness of gambling related harm utilizing the seven prevention strategies for community change. Participants will experience highlights, data, and evaluation from campus programming.
With the legalization of sports betting in Ohio, there has been an increase in harassment and threats from sports bettors towards college athletes. To address this issue the Ohio Casino Control Commission, with support from Ohio for Responsible Gambling, partnered with Origo Branding to develop a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of this issue and prevent harassment of college athletes. We will explore how different communities can utilize the campaign, consequences of sports betting on student-athletes’ mental health, related shifts in the sports betting landscape, and the effects of increased accessibility of online gaming and sports betting on youth.
Young adults are at greater risk of problem gambling. Working with colleges and universities to prevent underage and problem gambling is key in reaching this age group. In Maryland, the Center was tasked with building at least 16 new relationships to establish underage and problem gambling prevention strategies on campuses; including Historically Black Colleges and Universities; four-year colleges and universities; and community colleges. Learn how the Center accomplished this goal through public awareness, prevention, and training.
