UF students fuel Florida’s online gambling boom post-legalization
More college students are placing wagers, but experts warn of rising gambling addiction risks
During Super Bowl 2025, UF students were hooked on the game not for their favorite teams, but in anticipation of their sports bets, reflecting a broader surge in online sports gambling.
Legal sportsbooks are expected to handle $1.4 billion in Super Bowl bets this year, according to the American Gaming Association. While 30 states have legalized online sports betting since the Supreme Court struck down a federal ban in 2018, only three more approved it in 2024. Florida is among the latest states to allow wagers through the Seminole Tribe’s Hard Rock Bet app, which was legalized in December 2023.
Parlays, a type of bet that combines multiple wagers into one with longer odds, are driving revenue for online sportsbooks as legalization in other states slows. Instead of placing a $10 bet on a certain team to win $20, bettors add wagers on total points or player yardage for a higher potential payout — but every leg must hit.
The rise in participation coincided with a 130% increase in calls in 2024 to the 888-ADMIT-IT helpline from Floridians struggling with online gambling, according to data from the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling. The data also shows 66% of online bettors are under 30, highlighting the impact on younger demographics.
Jennifer Kruse, the executive director of the FCCG, pointed to the growing societal acceptance and accessibility of gambling through legal sportsbooks as key factors. With more people participating, she said, the potential for gambling-related problems also rises.
"The more acceptable something is — the more accessible something is, the more likely people are to participate in it," Kruse said. "And with increased participation, as we know, comes the increased potential for more people to develop gambling-related problems."
For many students, sports betting has become a social experience. Angela Seminara, a 21-year-old UF English junior, said her friend group regularly shares their wagers in a group chat, celebrating wins together.
“I’m personally drawn to it because I’ve always loved sports, and it’s a fun way to get invested in games that I wouldn’t normally care about,” Seminara said.
She also noticed more women getting involved. She said interest in sports has grown among her female friends, fueled in part by UF’s recent success in college basketball and even pop culture moments like Taylor Swift’s highly publicized connection to the NFL.
While men still make up the vast majority of sports bettors in Florida, with 97% of bettors in 2024, the number of women participating has surged since legalization. According to the FCCG’s 888-ADMIT-IT HelpLine data, the number of female sports bettors increased ninefold in 2024 compared to the period before legalization.
Seminara said she prefers to keep her bets small — rarely more than $10 — but she has seen others risk up to $250 on a single game.
Beyond traditional sports, online betting also offers an array of wagers on some unconventional events. enthusiasts can put money on anything from reality show eliminations to competitive eating competitions, according to Altenar. Political junkies bet on election outcomes, while fans of the royal family gamble on the name of the next British royal baby.
Since the launch of Florida’s only regulated online sportsbook, Hardrock Bet, Dec. 7, 2023, the FCCG has worked to ensure support services are available for those struggling with gambling addiction. The organization offers 24/7, year-round, live support via phone, text and chat. It works to help people with immediate needs such as housing, food and utilities while also providing long-term assistance to address the causes of gambling addiction.
In partnership with the Seminole Tribe, the FCCG also developed an eight-module online program including live interaction with certified gambling addiction counselors and psychologists. Beyond crisis intervention, the organization aims to educate gamblers about risks and help them develop realistic expectations.
As major sporting events like the Super Bowl continue to attract bettors, experts warn the ease of online gambling may drive both casual and problematic participation. For those seeking support, the FCCG’s 888-ADMIT-IT helpline remains a free and confidential resource.
Contact Sabrina Castro at scastro@alligator.org. Follow her on X @sabs_wurld.
Sabrina Castro is a rising senior studying journalism at the University of Florida and a Summer 2024 reporter for The Avenue. In her free time you can find her scrolling TikTok or searching for hidden gems at local thrift stores.
