ILLEGAL SPORTS BETTING PUSHED AT LSU!

Monday, November 10^th, 2025

Baton Rouge. Louisiana

 

ILLEGAL SPORTS BETTING PUSHED AT LSU!

 

There is a grave danger for college kids sweeping the country. A new study published this month in Rolling Stone Magazine found that 67% of college students living on campus are betting on sports, The lengthy study, by the way, was co-authored by my grandson, Eli Senor, who lives in New York City.

To pay for this gambling habit, the study shows how many students revert to “borrowing” from their parents, even stealing, from their credit cards. The problem has become so bad that a number of students have been driven to suicide by their compulsion.

None of this should be any surprise to young gamblers at Louisiana colleges. Gambling illegally has been a way of life for thousands of students, particularly at flagship LSU, for many years.  Gambling is everywhere in the Bayou State. Presently, the state has 15 so called “floating” casinos, a huge land-based casino in downtown New Orleans, four racetrack casinos, 200 truck stop casinos and over 1000 restaurants and bars that have video poker machines. Wow!  Was there anywhere else where the gambling industry can go in the Bayou State to suck out more dollars from gullible locals?

Sure there is. Go after the college students.  Even though it’s against the law for someone in Louisiana to gamble who is under twenty-one, the state’s flagship LSU has been openly soliciting students to sign up for an online account and gamble on any number of sporting events. 

As the New York Times reported: “LSU sent a mass email to, among others, students who were not yet 21, the legal betting age in the state. The email told students of all ages that they could bet on all the sports you love right from the palm of your hand, and every bet earns more with Caesars Rewards — win or lose.” This email was not sent out by gambling interests. No, it was sent out by the state’s flagship University. I kid you not.

Is this now the mission for universities in Louisiana? Promoting gambling on campus to impressionable young students even though it is illegal? “It just feels gross and tacky for a university to be encouraging people to engage in behavior that is addictive and very harmful,” said Robert Mann, a former LSU journalism professor.  “You cannot get away from it.  You take a daily shower in sports betting when you walk around.”

In the Senor recent study, he explains how college students are microbetting, 

that keeps users in action. “You lose track of time and space, and next thing you know, you’re betting Indian cricket at 4 a.m.  I don’t even know the rules of cricket.” Another better says “ I’m betting Chinese ping-pong at 3 a.m.”

 

Casino supporters point out that the state is broke and about to fall off this so called “fiscal cliff.” But isn’t it interesting that the more progressive states throughout the south, from Virginia and the Carolinas all the way across to Texas, have developed new economic development prospects that offer their citizens better job opportunities without relying heavily on income from gambling?

There are many ways in the Bayou state to “Laissez les bons temps rouler.”  Expanding the present high level of sports betting, particularly to vulnerable college students, should not be one of them. There are just too many other ways to have a good time, without gambling away our already fragile quality of life.

 

Flagship LSU should quit worrying about their next $10 million football coach. What to do about the school itself urging students to bet and the dangers in doing so should be the number one priority. But don’t count on it.

 

 Peace and Justice.

Jim Brown

Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownusa.com.