Big wins and big risks: sports betting grows among college students

By Macey Smith 
Staff Writer

Half a million dollars. 

That’s what a University of Tennessee student reportedly won off a single sports bet. Or at least, that’s the story that made its way through friend groups and dorm rooms across many college campuses. 

 For many, stories like this can make sports betting feel less like risky gambling and more like a solid opportunity to win big. 

“It definitely gets you thinking about the money you can make,” said Paul Snodgrass, a freshman at Trevecca. “When you see somebody hit a big win on maybe Instagram or, you hear about a friend winning big, that definitely draws people in.” 

Snodgrass said before he came to Trevecca, he participated in sports betting with high school friends. 

He’s not alone. For many college students, particularly men, sports betting is often marketed as a harmless extension of sports fandom.  

Men account for roughly 90 percent of online sports bettors, according to data from the New York Council on Problem Gambling. A Siena College poll cited by CBS News also found that most online bettors are young men, and nearly half say they believe they bet more than they should. 

“For us, it was kind of a joke, or a fun thing to do,” said Snodgrass. 

Like many young people, Snodgrass said it felt harmless at first. It was social, provided small amounts of money here and there, and was overall a fun way to apply your sports knowledge into something. 

In 2018, the U.S Supreme Court voted in favor of allowing states to legalize sports betting. Since then, the industry has exploded. Today, 38 states, including Washington, D.C, have legalized sports betting. 

What feels harmless to many college students is part of a rapidly growing national industry that has generated $16.96 billion in gross revenue in 2025 alone. As sports betting becomes increasingly popular among young people and normalized through social media, fantasy leagues, and constant advertising, its easy accessibility through smartphone apps has raised new concerns about impulsive betting and addiction risks. 

A 2025 sports betting survey showed that 1 in 4 sports bettors have missed bill payments due to wagers and almost a third admitted to having debts attributed to gambling according to an article published in U.S News and World Report. 

While sports betting is growing in popularity nationwide, it is prohibited at Trevecca because of the school’s religious affiliation.

Gambling of any form is not permitted on Trevecca’s campus as outlined in the student conduct guidelines and housing agreements. ,also stating that the university’s behavioral standards are based on the denomination that sponsors the school. The handbook explains that “Trevecca Nazarene University is a direct subsidiary of the Church of the Nazarene, and as such, students, faculty, staff, and administration are expected to abide by the guidelines established by this church.” (Student Conduct Handbook, paragraph 19)

Those guidelines come from the Church of the Nazarene Manual from 2023. In the section on Christian conduct, the manual warns against gambling and similar practices, stating that “schemes such as lotteries, legal or illegal gambling… often take needed financial resources from the poor and elderly with false promises of return.” (Church of the Nazarene Manual, paragraph 29.5).

These rules surrounding gambling are even stricter for student athletes.  

Breanne Winic, director of athletic compliance at Trevecca, said NCAA guidelines prohibit athletes as well as athletic department staff from participating in any form of gambling.  

“Student athletes and anyone that works in the athletic department are not allowed to participate in anything regarding gambling even if they’re 21.” Said Winic. “We usually send out reminders around March Madness in case athletes may have forgotten about the rule, so coaches and staff help reinforce it.” 

Athletes are reminded of the rule during meetings at the start of each year and often again during March, when sports betting typically increases during March Madness. 

If an athlete violates the policy, the case is reported to the NCAA which will then determine the consequences.  

“Depending on the severity, consequences could be as severe as losing a year of eligibility,” said Winic. 

Freshman student athlete Logan Hamilton said for many athletes the consequences for sports betting outweigh any benefits. 

“Not many student athletes here sports bet because it’s against NCAA rules and the consequences are very harsh.” Hamilton Said. 

Despite having such strict policies, monitoring activity involving gambling and sports betting is very difficult. 

“I think it’s more teammates keeping each other accountable than coaches monitoring it,” Winic said. “Other than that, there’s really no way to track it.” 

Accessibility to sports betting has made it easier than ever for gambling to become a problem for many young adults. According to research from the American Psychological Association, gambling activates the brain’s reward system in ways similar to drugs or alcohol, which can make the behavior addictive and impulsive to certain individuals. 

Compulsive gambling, also known as gambling disorder, involves an uncontrollable urge to continue gambling despite the negative consequences, according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms can include chasing losses, lying to others about gambling habits, or risking important relationships and financial stability. 

According to CBS News, calls to the national problem gambling helpline have nearly tripled in the past five years, with the largest group of callers between the ages of 25 and 34. 

While gambling is prohibited on campus, students who may be struggling with gambling have access to support through Trevecca’s counseling center.  

The counseling center offers undergraduate students eight free counseling sessions per year, with an additional session costing five dollars.  

“The counseling center is a confidential resource available to all students,” said Kathryn Burnside, one of Trevecca’s counselors. “If students are struggling with sports betting, that’s something they can absolutely bring to their counselor.” 

Editors note: This story has been updated to include correct information about university policy regarding gambling. An earlier version included inaccurate information.