So many of us have done it, a little wager over the football game at your college, keeping the book in your dorm for your fantasy football league, a little wagering over the March Madness tournament brackets, or a Friday night poker game with friends. Maybe you've even indulged in some online gambling from your phone or computer in your dorm. You're not alone. As of September 2021, nearly ten percent of Americans who bet online or in a casino did so at least once a week. Research from Custom Market Insights estimates that online gambling will be worth $145 billion by 2030. But what happens if you're caught gambling on campus? Can you face discipline from your school?

Gambling on Campus

In 2018, sports betting became legal in the U.S. after the U.S. struck down a federal law prohibiting it. But each state has its own laws that may take precedence. Now, 36 states and the District of Columbia have legalized some gambling, most prominently sports betting. Many casinos and online betting sites see college students as lucrative opportunities. According to U.S. News & World Report, more than a dozen major universities have signed deals with casinos to advertise on campus. At some schools, students will receive emails encouraging them to gamble online, even if they're under the state's legal betting age.

Violating School Codes of Conduct

While some colleges and universities actively promote gambling among students, many still prohibit illegal gambling in student codes of conduct. For example, at Tufts University in Boston, the university policies regarding student behavior expressly prohibit illegal gambling, stating, “Tufts prohibits illegal gambling. Students are expected to follow Massachusetts laws, which prohibit some forms of gambling.” Violations of school policies can result in disciplinary action.

At most colleges and universities, you can have an attorney or advisor helping you through the disciplinary investigation and hearing. Because of the “high stakes,” it's important that you speak to an experienced education attorney-advisor as soon as possible. Similarly, at Chapman University in California, the Student Conduct Policy also addresses gambling, stating, “students are expected to abide by federal and state laws prohibiting illegal gambling in person and online.”

Prohibited activities at Chapman include:

• Betting or wagering on any event,
• Possessing any devices or books for registering bets,
• Using your phone, electronics, social media accounts, or more for illegal gambling,
• Involvement in bookmaking or wagering pools, and
• Gaming events, including poker and casino nights.

Student codes of conduct for most universities and colleges prohibit illegal activity on campus, and students can face disciplinary action for illegal gambling. Moreover, your school may closely monitor online activity using the school's internet or electronics. If your school catches you engaging in gambling on campus, you could face disciplinary action, including a reprimand on your record, suspension, and expulsion from school

An Education Attorney Can Help You

If you're facing student disciplinary action because of gambling on campus, the consequences can be serious, and you need an experienced education lawyer to protect your rights. Experienced Academic Education Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento can help. He and the experienced Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm have helped hundreds of college and high school students across the country. Call the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 for a consultation, or contact them online to discuss your options.