Stockton poll: Sports gamblers rank lowest, but bet most among students

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A poll conducted by The Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming Hospitality and Tourism of Stockton University in conjunction with the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey released Tuesday found slots are the most popular form of gambling by New Jersey college students.

The poll found students who bet on sports gamble more frequently than those who gamble on slots.

Stockton University students participated in the voluntary survey that was distributed online during the spring 2019 semester. The report is based on responses submitted by 502 students, of whom 71 percent are female.

The survey found that 64 percent of participating college students report having gambled. Among college-aged gamblers the most popular forms of wagering were land-based casino slots at 52 percent, lottery at 43 percent, casino table games at 30 percent and sports betting at 28 percent.

The poll found gender differences in gambling behavior with slots and the lottery being more popular among women, while table games and sports betting were more popular among men. The poll found that among the percentage of students who have gambled, 21 percent first gambled when they were younger than 18 years of age.

The prevalence of underage gambling was highest among students who reported wagering on sports at 33 percent, according to the poll. Sports gamblers reported a higher frequency of gambling at 27 percent compared to 17 percent for gamblers in general.