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Massachusetts Gaming Commission Seeks Research Funding at Campus Gambling Hearing

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s chair joined educators and clinicians at a congressional hearing on college gambling, where the commission sought additional research and mental health funding.
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The Massachusetts Gaming Commission requested more funding for responsible gambling research and mental health services at a House subcommittee hearing Wednesday examining sports gambling on college campuses, according to KREM.

The commission’s chair testified alongside educators and mental health clinicians. Rep. Michael Baumgartner led the hearing, which addressed student financial distress, gambling education and university relationships with sportsbooks.

Student surveys highlight financial strain

Baumgartner cited an undergraduate survey released the previous month in which 31% of male students and 25% of female students said they knew someone who had experienced financial distress or academic fallout from online wagering losses.

He also said students who gambled online were 10% more likely to report difficulty paying for basic expenses, including medication, transportation and housing, than students who had never gambled.

“Another survey alarmingly found that more than one in five students had even used financial aid to place bets,” Baumgartner said.

Those findings were among the concerns discussed as the Massachusetts regulator called for additional research and mental health resources.

Campus education and sportsbook partnerships scrutinized

Baumgartner said campuses have systems to educate students about alcohol and substance abuse, but not sports gambling.

California Rep. Kevin Kiley criticized university partnerships with online sportsbooks that encourage students to gamble. He cited an example of a university sending students an email urging them to place a bet.

“There was one example where the university itself sent out an email saying, ‘Place your first bet,’ that sort of thing absolutely should not be happening,” Kiley said.

The subcommittee said it would continue examining the dangers of sports gambling and how universities can help students make informed, responsible decisions.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Massachusetts Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-327-5050 to speak with a trained specialist.

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Source: As reported by krem.com.

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The PlayMA Editorial Team provides everything you need to know about sports betting, casinos, lottery, and all other legal gambling in Massachusetts. The content writing process for the PlayMA Editorial team includes using an AI application but is edited and fact-checked by real-life humans. No piece of content is published before human eyes take a fine-tooth comb to ensure its accuracy, reliability and trustworthiness.

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