Sports Betting and Other Gambling in Athletes,Fans, and Other College Students

Gambling on college and professional sports and the influence of attending colleges with differing levels of “sports interest” were examined among athletes, sports fans, and other students (N = 10,559) at 119 colleges in the United States using multilevel statistical analysis. Athletes and fans reported more sports gambling compared to other students, with no differences between athletes and fans. Male students were more likely to gamble than female students, but gender did not moderate the relationship between athletic participation and sports gambling. Students attending schools with a greater “sports interest” were more likely to gamble on college sports after adjusting for individual characteristics. Athletes, sports fans, and students attending schools with high “sports interest” are appropriate targets for prevention efforts.