Gambling behavior among elite athletes
Overview of elite athlete vulnerabilities to problem gambling.
The unseen risks behind elite-level success.
Recent surveys confirm that Florida is a top U.S. state for producing elite athletes across multiple sports, ranking third in the nation, where 1 in about 5,800 residents becomes a professional in leagues such as the NFL, MLB, and more. Florida is also home to a significant number of major professional sports teams and their respective players, including those employed in the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. The state also serves as a major spring training destination for the latter.
Meanwhile, Florida is home to a large number of college student athletes participating in the NCAA, with over 350 member schools and opportunities for many student-athletes to compete at an elite level. A national figure of over a half-million student-athletes in the NCAA provides context for the scale of participation across all U.S. states, including Florida.
This significant presence of elite athletes represents a key industry for the state, contributing substantially to its economy, regulated gambling revenue included. While there are firm league and organization policies in place regarding athlete participation in the activity, it is an issue that athletic leagues, organizations, and the athletes themselves contend with. The issue is particularly complex from a behavioral health perspective when considering the statistics presented below.
Florida’s elite athletes | An at-risk population
Research confirms that elite athletes have higher prevalence rates of problematic gambling behavior when compared to the general population. Considering Florida’s disproportionately large population of competitive athletes, implications can be drawn as to why the state has a 100% (approximate) greater percentage of problem gamblers than reported in U.S. national surveys.
Collegiate athletes screen positive for problem gambling at rates between 2.9% to 15%, significantly higher than the global general population estimate of 0.12% to 5.8%.
Studies indicate higher rates of gambling problems among elite professional athletes (8.2% reported problem gambling) compared to the general population.
47% of male college student-athletes and 36% of women college student-athletes violate NCAA rules that prohibit sports wagering.
Only 10% of male college student-athletes and 12% of women college student-athletes report that they know where to get help for problem gambling on campus.
Adding a layer of complexity is the data surrounding mental health issues that co-occur with problem gambling, which are also disproportionately high in elite athlete populations. Below is a summary of research findings for athlete mental health concerns that co-occur with problem gambling:
Between 6% to 14.6% of elite athletes struggle with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
14.7% of elite athletes struggle with social anxiety.
5.2% of elite athletes struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
4.5% of elite athletes struggle with panic disorder.
6% of male college student-athletes and 9% of female college student-athletes report feeling symptoms of depression to the that they find it difficult to function.
85% of female college student-athletes and 95% of male college student-athletes have higher stress levels compared to 52% of non-athlete students.
Up to 84% of college student-athletes engage in disordered eating.
Summary of athlete mental health issues that co-occur with problem gambling
-
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
-
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
-
Depression
-
Disordered eating
-
Social anxiety
-
Chronic stress
-
Panic disorder
-
Insomnia
Problem gambling help for athletes in Florida
Are you an amateur, collegiate, or professional residing in Florida? Do you struggle with problem gambling? Call the Playwise helpline number below to connect to accessible, confidential, and effective support.
