NFHS introduces free course on the risks of betting for high school students

Summary

• High school students can now access a new course on the risks of betting, the NFHS announced
• The course is free and can be accessed via the NFHS Learning Center, providing vital information for high school students, student athletes, administrators, coaches and parents
• Dan Schuster, NFHS’ Director of Educational Services, speaks about the importance of the new course

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The national leader and advocate for high school sports and activities in the U.S.,the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), announced the launch of a free course focusing on the risks associated with sports betting. The course, applicable for high school students, seeks to raise awareness of the dangers associated with gambling, raise awareness, and educate.

Students, parents, coaches and educators can access the course via the NFHS Learning Center

The launch of the new course comes at a time when the popularity of sports betting continues to grow. With landmark leagues having established partnerships with betting companies, social media promotions and prediction markets, betting across the United States has never been more popular. This expansion of betting is a prime reason why the NFHS launched the new course, which seeks to educate coaches, administrators, student athletes, as well as parents about the dangers related to gambling. The high visibility of sports betting, including prediction markets, results in the normalization of gambling. In turn, more college students and even high school students may place sports wagers. The NFHS cited data from a national health poll by the University of Michigan, suggesting that 1 in 4 parents have discussed online betting with their child, while 1 in 6 admitted they likely wouldn’t know if their child was engaging in online betting. On the other hand, a separate national study on youth gambling uncovered a concerning trend. Per that study, 68% of the individuals ages 12 to 21 admitted to gambling in the past year. Even more concerning, of those who gambled underage, approximately 6% fell into the category for at-risk gambling, while 2% met the criteria for problem gambling. Tapping into the new course via the NFHS Learning Center, high school students, parents, coaches and administrators can access detailed information about the expansion of sports betting and problem gambling. At the same time, the courses provide prevention strategies and highlight the importance of competition integrity. Dan Schuster, NFHS’ Director of Educational Services, commented: The NFHS Learning Center is pleased to help raise awareness of the mental health challenges and risks sports betting can pose to young people. We value the opportunity to educate individuals nationwide on this critically important issue, he said in conclusion.