Fantasy Sports: A Growing Concern Among College Student-Athletes

Participation in fantasy sports has become increasingly popular. Typical gambling activities such as poker, sports wagering and, sports lotteries, share many similar characteristics with fantasy sports playing. Research has shown that not only are college students more likely to partake in risky behaviors (gambling, alcohol and drug use), but those who partake in fantasy sports are also more likely to experience gambling-related problems. However, no published studies have examined the relationship between student-athletes and fantasy sports participation. Using data from the 2004, 2008 and 2012 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) studies assessing gambling behaviors and problems among U.S college student-athletes, this study aims to explore the prevalence and growth in fantasy sports among student-athletes. Further, it examines whether, in the 2012 study, student-athletes qualifying as at-risk or having gambling problems participate more often in fantasy sports. Overall a steady increase in fantasy sports participation (for money or fun) in college was found looking at these three cross-sectional studies. Additionally, approximately half of college student-athletes who qualified as at risk or having gambling problems were found to have participated in fantasy sports wagering.