The University of Mississippi announced Monday it will establish the Center on Collegiate Gambling, a facility described by researchers as the first of its kind in the nation. The center aims to study the growing risks associated with legalized sports betting and online gambling among college students and athletes.
Approved by the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees in February, the center will cost approximately $700,000 annually. It plans to begin hiring staff and will focus on researching gambling behaviors, including card games, proposition betting, and prediction markets, on college campuses.
Researchers from the university recently released a survey showing that 39% of Mississippi college students gambled in various formats over the past year. Of those who engaged in sports betting, 6% met criteria for problem gambling, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
Hannah Allen-King, executive director of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing, said the issue affects Mississippi broadly. She emphasized efforts to collaborate with lawmakers as they debate gambling policies in the state.
Mississippi currently permits sports betting only within casinos, following the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned a federal ban. Despite restrictions, illegal online betting accounts for about 5% of the national black market, with Mississippi contributing an estimated $3 billion in illicit bets in 2024, proponents said.
Supporters argue that regulating and taxing online sports betting could address illegal activity. The state House has repeatedly voted to legalize mobile sports betting, but Senate leaders have indicated they plan to let the measure die again during the current legislative session.
The rise of college gambling has also increased threats against student-athletes, whose performances are now closely monitored by gamblers. Allen-King noted that college sports play a significant cultural role in Mississippi, making athletes vulnerable to harassment and threats related to betting losses.
Associate Professor Daniel Durkin, a founding member of the center, highlighted the importance of raising awareness about gambling prevalence on campuses. The center aims to fill a gap in national research, providing evidence-based policies and training counselors to help students struggling with gambling addiction.
Eight university counselors have already received certification to better identify and assist students facing gambling issues, the researchers said.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
