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NCAA Releases Sports Betting Survey Data of College Students

Robert Linnehan

by Robert Linnehan in Sports Betting News

Updated May 24, 2023 · 1:36 PM PDT

March Madness.
Mar 16, 2023; Birmingham, AL, USA; March Madness banner on display during the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
  • The NCAA surveyed 3,527 college students about their sports betting habits
  • Among 18- to 22-year-olds, the NCAA found 58% of those surveyed had participated in at least one betting activity
  • Only 27.5% have placed a bet through a mobile app or website

The NCAA released results of a recent sports betting survey that included 3,527 college students age 18-to-22, with nearly 58% of respondents noting they’ve participated in at least one betting activity.

According to the results, 63% of on-campus students recalled seeing sports betting ads, a higher rate than found in the general population or those that commute or virtually attend college, with 58% of those students indicating they are more likely to bet after seeing the ads.

“We have built strong relationships with industry experts in this space, and we are in constant communication about various issues, everything ranging from integrity monitoring to mental health resources,” said Clint Hangebrauck, managing director of enterprise risk management, in a press release. “The world of sports wagering is vast and complex. The NCAA is diligently gathering data, reviewing processes and procedures and creating initiatives to educate student-athletes and protect the integrity of college athletics.”

NCAA Survey Results Show Betting Prevalent

New NCAA President Charlie Baker commissioned the survey weeks into his new position, citing the need for new baseline data on college student sports betting activity.

“We needed a new baseline so we can better understand what student-athletes are experiencing on their campuses and among their peers so we can best help them deal with the potentially disruptive dynamic of legal sports betting,” Baker said in a release. “Sports betting has increased interest in sports of all kinds, including college sports, which is great for our fans, but the NCAA and everyone from coaches to athletics department staff and college presidents must better understand what impact sports betting may have on student-athletes.”

Data from the survey concluded that sports betting is widespread on college campuses, with 67% of surveyed students who live on campus reporting they are bettors.

Here are some additional findings:

  • 37% of surveyed students have taken part in two-or-more betting activities, 24% in three-or-more, and 11% in four-or-more.
  • White or caucasian respondents are least likely to engage in betting activities at 54%, Asian respondents at 55%, Hispanic or Latino at 63%, and Black or African American respondents at 68%.
  • Two-thirds of men have engaged in sports betting activites compared with 51% of women.

Here’s how the betting frequency broke down:

  • 21.9% bet once a year or less frequently.
  • 35.7% bet a few times a year
  • 15.2% bet monthly
  • 13.3% bet a few times a month
  • 9.9% bet a few times a week
  • 4% bet daily

Risky Betting Behavior

State legality and age restriction didn’t impact betting rates, as the survey found that in areas where betting is legal versus areas where it’s illegal have nearly the same rate of engagement. The Northeast region of the country had the largest portion of bettors at 61%, with the West the lowest at 45%.

The survey noted that 16% of respondents engaged in at least one risky behavior and 6% reported they previously lost more than $500 on sports betting in a single day. Risky behavior was defined as betting either a few times a week or daily, betting $50 or more in a typical wager, and/or losing more than $500 betting on sports in a single day.

Respondents from the Northeast and South, as well as Black or African American respondents, are overrepresented among higher-risk gamblers, according to the survey.

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