West Texas A&M will block access to online gambling sites on university-supported internet according to its president.
“Predatory gambling occurs when corporate gambling interests, sometimes coupled with government, exploit citizens and their communities,” WTAMU President Dr. Walter V. Wendler wrote in his weekly column where he made the announcement. “Universities are communities, and students are their primary citizens.”
Gambling has horrendous effects on individuals, with 6 percent of college students having gambling problems—twice the percentage of U.S. adults, Wendler wrote.
Additionally, Wendler cited the Journal of American College Health, which has published a study that says predatory gambling is high among college students and frequently coupled with alcohol and drug abuse.
Participating in gambling can be appealing due to the prospect of “easy money” but can ultimately lead to a decline in academic performance, Wendler added.
“Problem gamblers among college students are more likely to skip classes, neglect academic responsibilities and fail exams,” Wendler wrote. “Beyond my personal empathy toward those struggling with any kind of addiction, as the president of West Texas A&M University, I also have a professional interest in eliminating any barrier to academic excellence.”
He concluded, “The impacts of predatory gambling are real. College students at a particularly formative stage in their lives can develop habits and lifestyles that are akin to drug and substance abuse. There is not a single thread of evidence showing predatory gambling has a positive impact on academic excellence. And redefining excellence is our first job.”
Monied casino interests have been targeting Texas to bring casinos to the state. This year, casino gambling political action committees donated money to incumbent lawmakers who voted to expand gambling in Texas during the 2023 legislative session.
