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Health Services

RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING

It is estimated that approximately 75% of college students have engaged in at least one gambling activity in the past year. Gambling is any activity where a person risks an item of value (e.g., money) on the outcome of an event that is determined mostly by chance, to get something valuable.

Gambling addiction is considered to be a process addiction in which someone has a strong impulse to partake in specific behaviors, even when those behaviors result in harmful consequences. Other process addictions include Internet, shopping and food addictions.

 

RISK FACTORS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

College students are three times more likely to experience gambling-related harms than the general population. Additionally, there are several factors that increase risk:

  • Students who identify as male
  • Students living in a group household
  • Students involved in a fraternity/sorority
  • Student-athletes, including club and intramural sport athletes
  • Students who perceive themselves as less academically successful
  • Students who engage in high-risk alcohol use are more likely to gamble (high-risk alcohol use = 4 or more drinks for women / 5 or more drinks for men)
  • Students diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder (96% of people experiencing gambling harms have a co-occurring mental health disorder)

FORMS OF GAMBLING

Gambling can take many forms beyond in-person casino table games and slot machines. It also includes:

Lottery and scratch off tickets

Raffles

Bingo

Horse betting 

Spending real money on social casino games or sports betting apps

Prop betting

"Skins betting" (video games)

Daily fantasy sports

Trading cryptocurrencies

Prediction markets (Kalshi, Polymarket, Robinhood, DraftKings, FanDuel)

Trading high-risk stocks

Video game loot boxes

If you are already gambling in some way, there are a number of ways to reduce your risk for gambling-related harms:

  • Be an informed consumer of advertisements
  • Set and stick to a budget
  • Set a time limit
  • Only bet with your own money
  • Avoid gambling when you are hungry, upset, lonely or tired or in an attempt to escape negative emotions
  • Avoid gambling when you are using alcohol and/or other substances

Answer these two questions:

  1. Have you ever felt the need to bet more and more money?
  2. Have you ever had to lie to people important to you about how much you gambled?

If you answered “yes” to either/both of these questions, you might consider connecting to the resources noted below.

 

All data, definitions and recommendations are from the Higher Education Center (2026)

Self-Check questions are validated here:

  • Johnson, E.E., Hamer,R., Nora, R.M., Tan, B., Eistenstein, N., & Englehart, C. (1988). The lie/bet questionnaire for screening pathological gamblers. Psychological Reports, 80, 83-88.
  • Götestam, K.G., Johansson, A., Wenzel, H.G., Simonsen, I.E. (2004). Validation of the lie/bet screen for pathological gambling on two normal population data sets. Psychological Reports, 95, 1009-13.

 

If you notice these changes in someone, these indicate that someone may be struggling to set limits and control their gambling behaviors:

  • Changes in how they are talking about gambling
  • Changes in their financial situation
  • Changes in priorities and time management
  • Changes in mood and behavior
  • Chasing losses
If you notice the changes above, it is important to:
  • Talk to them privately and express your concern
  • Listen without judgement
  • Know and share the resources below (which can also be found here):
    • University Counseling Center, 610-519-4050, sean.dinan@villanova.edu
    • National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-522-4700, Text: 800GAM

GAMBLING RESOURCES

For advice or help for yourself or a friend, don't hesitate to reach out to one or more of these resources: 

FINANCIAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING RESOURCES

If you want to improve your overall financial health and well-being, unrelated to gambling, there are many resources and services available to you at Villanova. 

 

 

STUDENT SURVEY

We would love to hear your feedback. Please offer suggestions for the University Counseling Center using this survey. All suggestions are anonymous and are periodically reviewed by the Director of the Counseling Center.

The University Counseling Center is located in Health Services Building Room 206.
The building is located at the main entrance to campus, from Ithan Avenue, across from the Pavilion and the Business School.

ARE YOU
FEELING
ANXIOUS?

NOT FEELING
YOURSELF?

HELP IS
A CALL AWAY.

Contact the Counseling Center at 610-519-4050 to schedule an appointment.

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LOOKING FOR A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER?
CHECK OUT MiRESOURCE!

Students Please Note: Use of the MiResourse website is voluntary. Use of the MiResourse website is subject to the MiResourse terms of use and privacy policy.  Villanova University is not a party to any user agreement or terms and conditions between students and MiResourse, including, without limitation, any privacy policy or terms of use. Students must make independent judgements regarding use of the service and any provider listed on the MiResourse website. The references/links to MiResource services are provided for informational purposes only. The services provided and providers listed by MiResource have not been approved or endorsed by Villanova University.

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

 

In an emergency, call Villanova Public Safety at 610-519-4444.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988.