An institution in Texas is taking steps to protect students from gambling-related harm.
West Texas A&M University has issued a campus-wide ban on online gambling sites accessed through the school’s Wi-Fi and electronic devices, according to an ABC-7 report.
The ban, effective immediately, pertains to all West Texas A&M students and faculty. It also extends to visitors who use Wi-Fi around campus, including marquee areas. The areas include Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
“College students at a particularly formative stage in their lives can develop habits and lifestyles that are akin to drug and substance abuse,” said West Texas A&M President Walter Wendler. “There is not a single thread of evidence showing predatory gambling has a positive impact on academic excellence.”
West Texas A&M’s decision to ban online gambling sites comes as the relationship between sports betting and higher education comes into question.
Earlier this week, the Assembly Higher Education Committee in New Jersey advanced a bill that proposes a ban on deals between sports betting brands and universities.
The measure, Assembly Bill 4113, aims to prohibit partnerships between a sports betting operator or intermediary and an institution of higher education. The institutions include a college or university athletics department or booster club. The bill also covers contractual agreements that provide operators with the right to advertise in college stadiums.
The proposed ban on ads in college facilities includes digital and broadcast content.
Until a ban is approved, groups like Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) will continue to educate young adults on responsible gambling. Earlier this month, ROGA teamed up with EPIC Global Solutions and Kindbridge Behavioral Health to develop a new national college responsible gambling education campaign.
The campaign will utilize digital delivery tools to provide RG and financial literacy education to students across campuses nationwide.
