Gambling: Harmless game or risky business?

Whether to make the game more interesting, or just to emphasis confidence in one's team, gambling is a relatively common student activity. In some students' experiences, watching tension-filled games and putting money where the proverbial mouth is, has become as much a part of college as after-hours pizza. That passion for sports, however, can lend itself to a potentially fun but also potentially dangerous activity: gambling.

The compulsive and uncontrollable side of this form of recreation often goes unrecognized. According to a study conducted by researchers at Harvard University, college students are 20 percent more likely to suffer from gambling addictions compared to young adults.

"As gambling has become more socially accepted and accessible during the past two decades, the general adult population has started to gamble in increasing numbers," said Harvard Medical School Psychology Professor and survey director Howard Shaffer.

Studies like this are proving that poker and gambling are not just for balding men with a love for cigars. These games are wildly popular across campus, and highly visible.

Whether it is watching players on television, gambling in a dorm, casino, or trying their luck online students say they are just looking for some fun with their friends, and the chance to make a quick buck.

The appearance of mainstream gambling has been apparent in the activity's increasing popularity. Highly dramatized World Championship poker tournaments on national television are an influencing factor to students. One self-proclaimed addict, a Tufts junior, explained the attraction.

"You watch the guys at these high stake tournaments and think you can play like

them," he said. "I've seen all the tournaments, and whenever I watch them, I end up wanting to start a game."

In addition to its social, clustered-around-the-TV variety, gambling, specifically poker, has manifested itself in dark, off-campus basements and dorm hallways late at night. On any given night in South Hall, for example, gambling is usually taking place in at least one "study" area.

For those who aren't particular about the authenticity of their gambling experience, there is online casino gambling and sports betting sites like "Fantasy Football." Since the first online casino was established in 1995, these 24-hour, instantly accessible venues have become popular outlets for gambling.

The extreme convenience of online gambling venues makes them dangerous to borderline-compulsive gamblers. Many such online venues offer players the possibility of withdrawing or depositing automatically into your bank account. Many border-line compulsive gamblers refuse to try it, fearing what might result.

In an effort to combat a "culture of illegal gaming on college campuses," the US Senate Commerce Committee has recently approved the Amateur Sports Integrity Act. Though not yet adopted by the Senate, several US senators have proposed an addition to the bill that would make universities responsible for their students' online gambling habits. The bill would dictate that universities monitor their Internet facilities to identify online gambling. Any university failing to do so would lose its federal education funding.

With casino gambling highly restricted and isolated in the US by negative stigmas, a trip to a casino seems like a rebellious outing for the college gambler. Most states accept horse racing and the lottery as perfectly legal outlets for gambling, but explicitly outlaw casinos. Tufts students however, have found several legal 18-and-over gaming venues are within driving distance. One popular mecca, four hours west of Tufts, is Turning Stone Casino. As part of the whole male bonding experience, the DTD fraternity took their pledge class trip there last spring. Another destination, just across the border, is The Montreal Casino, where gambling is legal at age 18.

Freshman Jon Gold sees the limitations and stigmas around casinos as unfounded. "What's wrong with spending $10 playing poker with friends?" Gold said. "It's worth it when you get to play and have fun for two hours."

Gold also noted, that most college students do not have a lot of disposable income to gamble with -- which keeps the ante at around a quarter. While the wins and losses may be financially minimal, the pride that comes with victory is undeniable.

And the cash doesn't hurt either. "It's an easy way to make money off stupid freshmen," said one sophomore.

While most students are playing for fun, money, or pride, others' participation in gambling may be bordering on an addiction. For those students, help is available, regardless of whether it is illegal for them to be playing in the first place.

Though the Tufts Counseling Center does not have a program for gambling problems, it advises students to seek help from the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling. The Council has a 24 hour hotline (1 800 GAM 1234) and a website, www.masscompulsivegambling.org.