Empowering the Next Generation: Why Responsible Gaming Education Belongs on Every College Campus

For today’s college students, the campus experience is a delicate balancing act. Academic pressures, social expectations, and newfound independence converge during a critical period of life. Many students are managing their own money for the first time, navigating environments that influence nearly every decision, and shaping habits that will last well beyond graduation.

Now, add to this mix the rapid rise of legal sports betting, as well as the accessibility of semi-regulated or unregulated options. Whether a student places bets, knows someone who does, or has no interest at all, the opportunity is there. And with this opportunity comes choices about money, time, and expectations.

This is precisely why responsible gaming education should be a core part of student wellness and life-skills programming.

More Than an Athlete Issue

Historically, many responsible gaming programs have focused on student-athletes; however, the truth is, every student on campus is navigating this landscape. Education that counters erroneous and risky beliefs—from the illusion of control in sports betting to the temptation of seeing gaming as income rather than entertainment—should not be confined to locker rooms.

Colleges understand the need to prepare students with practical skills. The Ohio State University’s Scarlet and Gray Financial Program helps thousands of students each year learn budgeting and credit management. The University of Texas at Austin’s Thrive at UT app equips students with stress-management tools. These efforts demonstrate that students are willing to utilize resources that fit into their daily lives. Responsible gaming belongs in this same conversation.

A New Approach: Know Your Play

Enter Know Your Play, a first-of-its-kind initiative from the Responsible Online Gaming Association, in collaboration with the Responsible Gambling Council, EPIC Global Solutions, and Kindbridge Behavioral Health.

The program provides accessible, evidence-based education that integrates responsible gaming with financial literacy and mental health, promoting a comprehensive understanding of risk-taking, financial management, and self-regulation across various activities, including digital health, social media and app usage, and gaming. It teaches the basics, such as odds and probability, while tackling myths like the belief that skill or knowledge can predict a random outcome. It reinforces the idea that gaming should be viewed as entertainment, rather than a means to earn a paycheck or a risk-free investment. And it equips students with tools to budget, save, and set limits – skills that matter whether they ever place a bet or not.

Already, the impact is visible. At the University of New Mexico, “Know Your Play” is being used as a prevention-first resource to highlight how lessons on financial health and stress management extend beyond sports betting to broader aspects of student life. Nationally, more than 40,000 people have visited the program’s website. This fall, campus events will bring the initiative directly to students. The demand for this type of education is evident.

Why Engagement Matters

When responsible gaming is presented as part of a broader skill set, aligned with financial literacy, digital health, and mental wellness, students are more likely to listen. They engage because the lessons resonate beyond the realm of gambling. They see how it connects to managing their budgets, protecting their mental health, and building habits that support their futures. This engagement is the first step toward informed decision-making.

A Call for Collaboration

However, no single program, campus, or organization can address this challenge alone. Creating a culture where responsible gaming coexists with other essential life skills requires collaboration among universities, researchers, advocacy groups, and industry partners. Together, we can ensure that students across campuses have access to the tools and knowledge they need to navigate independence with confidence.

Meeting the Moment

Today’s students are facing more freedom and more risks than any generation before them. With gaming and betting more accessible than ever, we have a responsibility to provide clear, relevant, and evidence-based education.

Responsible gaming education is not just about preventing potential harm. It’s about preparing young adults to make informed, responsible choices—in gaming and in finances, and in life. When colleges embrace this approach, they aren’t just protecting students from potential pitfalls. They’re empowering them to thrive. And that’s an effort worth undertaking.

Dr. Jennifer Shatley is the executive director of the Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA), representing nearly 90 percent of the legal U.S. online gaming market by handle. With nearly three decades of experience in responsible gaming, corporate social responsibility, public policy, and harm mitigation, she has pioneered many of the industry’s most recognized initiatives. Jen launched the first broadcast advertising campaign focused on responsible gaming, created enterprise-wide innovations in self-exclusion and player protection technology, and developed Caesars’ Responsible Gaming Ambassador program, which has trained more than 100,000 employees and served as a template for today’s proactive risk assessment practices. Today, she continues to set the standard for responsible gaming worldwide.