The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is working with the National Federation of State High School Associations and the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling (FCCG) in an attempt to reduce sports gambling amongst teenagers and young adults. These three bodies all have a strong focus on elevating general awareness about the dangers associated with gambling.
A curriculum has been designed to educate student-athletes about the different forms of gambling and its potential addiction. This curriculum is the latest component of the NCAA’s ongoing “Don’t Bet on It” campaign.
A recent NCAA study found close to 45 percent of student athletes surveyed made their first sports wager in high school or before. A FCCG study showed sports gambling is in the top three forms of gambling among Florida residents.
Pat Fowler, executive director of the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling said:
“Gambling has become a serious problem for many young people and we are gratified that the NCAA and NFHS are actively launching prevention curriculum,” “Our joint program empowers students to make informed decisions that can impact their lives in the short and long-terms. It also provides the means by which students and student athletes can access help for a gambling problem in a secure and confidential manner.”
