The Rise of Sports Gambling on College Campuses

The House Committee on Education & Workforce’s Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing on November 12, 2026, about sports gambling’s effects on college students and student athletes. Witnesses described widespread betting, financial and mental-health harms, athlete harassment linked to proposition bets, and gaps in campus education, screening, and referral services. They highlighted campus initiatives and Massachusetts consumer protections, while discussing concerns that prediction-market platforms offer sports wagers outside state safeguards. Members and witnesses called for stronger protections, restrictions on collegiate player prop bets and targeted advertising, improved campus prevention efforts, and greater research and workforce-training capacity.

No contracts, vendor selections, bids, purchasing decisions, or spending approvals were identified, and no votes were taken. Witnesses and members discussed the potential to clarify whether existing federal funding can support gambling-related research, training, prevention, and treatment, but no funding was allocated or action formally approved.