'BETTOR' Education:

The popularity of college and professional sports and§Americans propensity for competition and risk has§created a country that loves to bet on sports. This§qualitative investigation describes the life stories§of fourteen undergraduate students regarding how they§participated in sports gambling. Findings revealed§they were introduced to sports wagering prior to§college by their fathers or male friends through§socially acceptable forms, like tournament brackets§and Super Bowl squares. Motivations to bet were the§chance to make money, the excitement of the bet, the§use of sports knowledge, and social bonding. Students§continued their involvement with sports gambling due§to the general social acceptability of the activity§and the vast majority progressed to wagering via§online sites or bookmakers. The number and§amount of wagers also increased. Students were§negatively affected financially, academically, and§socially and used campus equipment and§facilities to wager on sports. Students disclosed§that social acceptability was woven throughout their§involvement with sports gambling and served as a§justification for their participation.