Secrets from the students:The illegal sports betting culture at UW-Madison

Photo: Richard Hurd, 2012

The sports betting industry, both legal and illegal, has exploded over the past three years and the result can be seen on college campuses across the country. As a large university filled with sports fans, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has a sports betting culture of its own among students of all ages. 

Betting on sports is nothing new, but in 2018, the Supreme Court case, Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, struck down the preexisting nationwide ban on sports betting. This decision left the states in charge of determining the legalization, and since 2018, 36 states have legalized sports betting over the age of 21. 

Even though legalization is widespread, there are still underage kids participating in illegal betting, especially on college campuses. 

Despite the restrictions placed on underage gambling, college students are still finding various illegal ways to place bets, and it has become extremely common. Whether they use a bookie, offshore sites, or bet through the mafia, there is no doubt that the students are betting.

Joey, who’s last name will be kept anonymous for legal reasons, is 20 years old and currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin. Joey has been illegally betting on sports since he was 16 years old with a bookie and plans to continue until he becomes legal. 

“I enjoy the rush and the thrill,” said Joey. “But I’ll also bet on a game just so that I have a reason [to watch], like a horse in the race.”

Placing bets on games provides an incentive to care about the result of the game or the performance of the players. People will watch a game, which they otherwise wouldn’t have a reason to, just because they have money on it. Sports are significantly more exciting when something is on the line.

Additionally, Joey talked about the correlation he has observed between sports betting and Greek life, as many of the people participating in gambling are members of fraternities. 

Joey mentioned that if a bunch of his fraternity brothers are watching a random game, “just by being around those people, you’re more likely to want to be invested in the random game as well.” 

There is no easier way to become invested in a game than to place a bet, and there is no easier time to bet than when friends are also betting. 

“I also know a couple bookies in the fraternity if I was in need of that,” said Joey. 

Most underage students betting on sports use bookies and offshore sportsbooks, but plan to transition to real, legal sportsbooks and online betting after turning 21. 

This is currently possible in the 36 states that have legalized sports betting, and there are eight more states that have introduced the idea on the ballots. 

Joey believes the recent legalizations will make the industry much safer and said he would “rather bet through an app than through the mafia or a bookie.”