CT Senate Bill Targets Campus Gambling

0:00More than 70 percent of undergrads in Connecticut have gambled, and 17 percent do it at a moderate level. That's from a survey of 1,300 students across 30 higher ed spots, run by two Yukon researchers. Now lawmakers are pushing Senate Bill 381 to make public colleges offer an on-campus problem gambling program every school year. The push comes amid a huge boom in sports betting, hitting college campuses hard. National stats show 67 percent of on-campus students placing sports bets, often more than non-students. Experts warn it leads the cash woes, skip classes, bad grades, and mental health dips, plus pressure on athletes. Senators like Derek Slap call it a solid first step, but say more is needed to fight the spread. A college kid from Wesleyan shared how friends blew thousands on parlays, tanking their lives and friendships. The Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling backs it as smart prevention by handling drugs or suicide risks.

1:00The Higher Education Committee passed it 17-1, with support from groups like the Mohigan tribe stressing early help. Diana Good highlighted the data-driven need to tackle gambling harms head on. The bill now moves to the full Senate, where it could spark real chains for student wellness before betting blows up even more. That's the story for today, Hartford News Today, driven by AI. I'm Cory with the story.