Problem sports betting/gambling in U.S. undergraduate students at a large public university

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of potential problem gambling among college students at a large U.S. public university who reported having participated in sports betting/gambling. Participants: A customized Healthy Minds Study (HMS) Student Survey was administered to undergraduate students (n = 1,489) at a large U.S. public university in 2025. Methods: The survey assessed lifetime participation in sports betting/gambling excluding one-time events like March Madness, and the prevalence of potential problem gambling based on the 3-question NODS-CLiP, a validated screening tool. Results: Of weighted responses, 10% (152/1,471) had engaged in sports betting/gambling in their lifetime. Of students endorsing lifetime participation in sports betting/gambling, 38% (58/152) screened positive for potential problem gambling on the NODS-CLiP. Conclusions: Of college students who had engaged in sports betting/gambling, more than one third screened positive for potential problem gambling based on a validated screening tool.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of American College Health
Published
2026-10-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2026.2744233
Primary Topic
Gambling Behavior and Treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Problem sports betting/gambling in U.S. undergraduate students at a large public university

Lindsey Mortenson, Christopher Frank, Elizabeth McEvoy
Journal of American College Health
Gambling Behavior and Treatments
article

Problem sports betting/gambling in U.S. undergraduate students at a large public university

Lindsey Mortenson, Christopher Frank, Elizabeth McEvoy
article en

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of potential problem gambling among college students at a large U.S. public university who reported having participated in sports betting/gambling. Participants: A customized Healthy Minds Study (HMS) Student Survey was administered to undergraduate students (n = 1,489) at a large U.S. public university in 2025. Methods: The survey assessed lifetime participation in sports betting/gambling excluding one-time events like March Madness, and the prevalence of potential problem gambling based on the 3-question NODS-CLiP, a validated screening tool. Results: Of weighted responses, 10% (152/1,471) had engaged in sports betting/gambling in their lifetime. Of students endorsing lifetime participation in sports betting/gambling, 38% (58/152) screened positive for potential problem gambling on the NODS-CLiP. Conclusions: Of college students who had engaged in sports betting/gambling, more than one third screened positive for potential problem gambling based on a validated screening tool.

Journal of American College Health
University of Michigan (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Gambling Behavior and Treatments
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