As the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament begins each spring, many college students rush to fill out their March Madness brackets. While the tradition has long been a fun way to follow the tournament, the growing presence of sports betting has added another dimension to how students experience the games.
Source: John Mersits, AP Photo
Freshman Gavin Flynn said filling out brackets has become a yearly tradition among his friends, family and teammates. Some brackets are simply for fun, while others include small buy-ins that make the competition more intense.
“I usually fill out a bracket every year, sometimes it’s just for fun, but other times there’s money involved,” said Flynn.
Although Flynn participates in bracket pools, he said he has never placed real-money bets on March Madness games. Still, he believes sports betting has become more common among college students as the idea of making quick money becomes appealing.
“I definitely think sports betting has become more common among college students. A lot of people are attracted to the idea of making money, even if it could hurt them in the long run,” said Flynn.
Freshman JC Andrade said he also fills out brackets every year and occasionally joins paid pools with friends from home and members of his family. While he does not personally bet on tournament games, he said sports betting is increasingly visible among students.
“I think it’s definitely become more popular. People see it as a way to make quick money, even though you can lose money just as fast,” said Andrade. “Every game I’ve watched seems to promote sports betting in some way.”
Research from Sacred Heart University supports these concerns. A recent nationwide poll conducted by the university found that 62% of Americans are worried that sports betting advertisements are affecting young people. The poll also reported that nearly three-quarters of Americans believe gambling has become more socially acceptable in sports.
Sophomore Michael Psilopoulos thinks March Madness brackets still serve as a way for students to connect and follow the tournament together. However, he believes the rise of betting apps and promotions has changed the overall sports viewing environment.
“With all the betting apps now, it feels like gambling is everywhere when you’re watching sports,” said Psilopoulos. “It can make games more exciting, but once people start betting more than they should, that’s when it becomes a problem.”
