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- A 2025 study conducted by the University of Mississippi found that 39% of college students participated in some form of gambling over the past year, raising new concerns regarding young adult exposure to legal wagering markets.
- Highlighting the critical need for proactive responsible gambling education, the research indicated that 10% of student sports bettors are at moderate risk for problem gambling, while 6% meet the clinical problem-gambling criteria established by the American Psychological Association.3
A University of Mississippi study found that 39% of college students reported gambling in some form within the past year in 2025, with student sports bettors showing notable rates of gambling-related harm.
The findings matter for sports betting audiences because the study also found that 10% of students who bet on sports were at moderate risk for problem gambling, while 6% met the criteria for problem gambling as defined by the American Psychological Association. Students in the study also reported losing money, feeling ashamed, and regretting their sports betting behavior.
Sports betting subgroup showed elevated risk
The WOAY-TV report on the research said the study covered gambling across multiple formats, including sportsbooks and online casinos in the US, though it did not specify in the article how many students were surveyed or which formats were included in the overall 39% figure.
Within the sports betting group, however, the risk indicators were more specific. According to the report, 10% of student sports bettors were classified as being at moderate risk for problem gambling, and 6% met the threshold for problem gambling.
Those findings add to concerns around how sports wagering is affecting younger adult bettors, particularly college-age users who may be exposed to legal betting markets and sports betting promotions while still developing money-management habits.
Researchers point to education and family conversations
Researchers recommended that universities take a more proactive approach to gambling education and treatment options, according to the report. The article said families also have a role to play, especially because gambling problems may develop without parents recognizing the signs.
Associate Professor of Social Work Daniel Durkin said at-home conversations are a practical starting point.
> “A lot of parents just aren’t aware that these problems are developing, and that would just be a good start: just have a conversation.”
The report did not detail what specific prevention or treatment measures universities should adopt beyond education and treatment support. It also did not answer other key questions, including the size of the student sample or whether the study focused on a particular campus type, region, or age bracket.
Even with those limits, the topline findings point to a measurable connection between college sports betting and problem-gambling risk, at a time when responsible gaming concerns remain a growing part of the broader U.S. betting conversation.
Source: As reported by woay.com.
