By Toma Lynn Smith
“I triple dog dare ya!”
Unwilling to back down from a dare, the challengee places the tip of his tongue on the icy pole, which gets him painfully, as well as awkwardly, stuck to the pole, in the movie, “A Christmas Story.”
Many college students who gamble can find themselves in a similar predicament, out in the cold financially and mentally if they are not careful.
Although gambling may seem fun at first, it can grow into a serious problem.
Mike Stone, Executive Director of the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, said it is an “equal opportunity addiction.”
Susceptibility to this illness is easy because the options are endless: lottery tickets, church bingo and craps, to name a few.
Some do not know how to draw the line between winning and losing.
Geoff Stevens, a sophomore communication major who has seen a colleague in trouble, said, “They don’t stop. They want to buy back in, and they lose their money in a game, [and] they keep on trying to get it back.”
It’s easy to say, “I bet Kansas wins the NCAA championship,” but it can become risky when those statements are backed with money being placed on them – which happens during sporting events, such as the NCAA tournament or even a poker game in the confines of a dorm room.
Betting should be seen as entertainment said Michelle Nguyen, a sophomore political science and finance major. “Think of gambling as a recreation,” she said.
Stone’s organization and National Council on Problem Gambling are implementing programs and public service announcements to bring awareness to the issue of college student gambling abuse.
Recently, The Louisville Cardinal posted an advertisement sponsored by the Campus Media Group with a picture of playing cards and poker chips, which stated, “Thousands of college students are addicted to this kind of pot.”
The Web site http://www.ncpgambling.org stated, “Youth who gamble also have higher rates of substance abuse, drunk driving, delinquency, violence and other antisocial behavior.”
Secrecy is one of the first signs of gambling addiction said Stone. Stone said if a person has been untruthful about how much they are gambling or how much money they spent on gambling instead of on necessities, then there is a problem.
There are many theories out there on the cause of this type of addictive behavior, said Stone.
Many college student gamblers may be like Blake Belles, a junior justice administration major, who said the extent of his gambling is participating in a church raffle and playing slot machines on a cruise ship.
Gambling wears many masks; it is hard to tell if someone will be at risk for addiction to it.
A trip across the Ohio River to Caesar’s Casino and Resort or a card game could be all that it takes.
“Anything can be an addiction,” said Nguyen, adding she can’t go a month without shopping.
