Sports betting has exploded since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized it in 2018 — and opening weekend for March Madness, which launched March 19 for women and March 20 for men, is reported to be the most bet-upon event in the United States.
And as showpieces for college athletics, the NCAA basketball tournaments are among the events most appealing to college-aged bettors.
Experts at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus recognize the popularity and pervasiveness of sports betting and are taking steps to make sure students are educated about the financial, social and mental health risks of problem gambling.
Nationally, 75% of college students gambled during the past year, whether legally or illegally, and nearly 60% of 18-22 year olds have bet on sports. In Nebraska, it’s not legal for those under 21 to place bets. Online bets through phone apps are not legal, either, although a proposed constitutional amendment to change that is headed to the floor of the Nebraska Legislature for debate.
However, underage Nebraskans do find ways to gamble.
Jon Gayer, assistant director for alcohol and drug education for UNL's Campus Recreation, said he recently asked a group of about 100 male students about their gambling experiences. More than 70% told him they had bet on sports and 31% said they made bets at least once a week. Most said they kept their bets to less than $50, but a handful said they did not limit the size of their bets.
In 2024, the university was awarded a $30,000 Agility grant through the National Council on Problem Gambling to develop gambling education resources for Husker students. Gayer said the funds have been used to support a variety of tools, such as a problem gambling workbook for use by students, an informational webpage, data collection and research, text messages and touchscreens that use a game-like approach to teach about problem gambling, among other presentations, messaging and gambling awareness events.
“We know students are gambling, whether illegally or driving to Iowa (where online betting is legal),” Gayer said. “We’re getting the information out there for students to understand responsible play and to assess whether they’ve developed a gambling problem and to get help if they need it. We urge parents to have conversations about gambling with their students.”
The gambling education program has been developed in consultation with experts in mental health, compulsive gambling, economic education, athletics and sports media. A March 27 Problem Gambling Awareness Event planned for the Nebraska Union will feature information about the university's Counseling and Psychological Services, financial peer educators and campus support programs for those dealing with addiction and compulsive behavior. A June 11 prevention webinar will feature leaders from the Nebraska Gamblers Assistance Program, the Nebraska Council on Economic Education and others to discuss gambling on campus.
Brian Petrotta, an assistant professor of sports media at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and a national expert on sports betting and journalism says the NCAA tournament can be a sort of gateway drug to young and inexperienced gamblers.
“Just about anyone interested in sports on campus is betting on it — and almost none of them know what they’re doing,” he said.
Because gambling now permeates sports, Petrotta started a special topics class to educate aspiring sports journalists about sportsbook operations. He says today’s sports reporters need to understand odds-making and other aspects of the gambling industry to cover sporting events accurately and responsibly.
Petrotta’s 30-seat class, which fills quickly, attracts both sports media majors and business students intrigued by front-office careers. After two years as a popup, the class is being added as an elective to the regular curriculum of the College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Petrotta recently reviewed five years of March Madness coverage in a study for ESPN and the International Gambling Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on how journalists can report responsibly on gambling. The study focused on ESPN’s “Bet Live” program.
He is due to report his findings during a webinar in April. He’s authored a white paper and a pair of research articles are in the works.
“It’s not so much gambling prevention — we know viewers are gambling, that’s why they’re watching the program,” he said. “How can we talk gambling in a way that’s responsible, that helps viewers make responsible decisions?"
One common misconception among students, he said, is that those who have played sports think their sports knowledge will translate into successful bets. Another misconception, often perpetuated by social media influencers, is that sports betting is an “investment” where those in the know can rake in big money.
Petrotta said he has literally gotten on his knees and begged students not to use their student loan proceeds to bet on sports.
“Sports betting is a financial market. It’s more about understanding the market than understanding sports,” he said. “It’s not an investment. Over time, if you’re constantly betting on sports, you will lose money”
