Grant Wells thought Internet card games were just a hobby -- until he made upward of $950 in three days. Like many students without jobs, or with low paying ones, poker and Caribbean stud seemed like easy ways to make money.

"I started out with small bets," said Wells, music education sophomore. "But then when I'd actually make money, I'd bet on the $100 tables."

Online gambling is a growing trend in many American colleges and universities, and OU is no exception. The percentage of college gamblers participating in online betting has almost doubled, from 11.7 percent in 2000 to 20.9 percent in 2005, according to the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey, an organization which provides prevention, education and referral services to anyone affected by addictive gambling. Online poker tournaments in the dorms are now forms of late-night entertainment, and some students even depend on the games as a source of income.

Online Gambling

o 20.9 percent of 19-25 year old gamblers do their gambling online.

o 8 percent of gamblers seeking help through the Council on Compulsive Gambling helpline are Internet gamblers.

o 5 percent of gamblers calling the helpline are adolescents -- up 3 percent since 2001.

Jay Farmer, media senior, said he met six of his best friends through online poker.

"Poker is more of an online community," Farmer said. "It's not just about the money."

Nick Gelona, music theater sophomore, found that the Internet provided an easy way to play the game when other people were not available.

"You just click a button and you play," Gelona said. "It's so easy."

Wells said he quit the games about three months ago after one frightening bet.

"There was a big moment when I lost $400 on a blackjack table," Wells said. "I'd been playing for six months, and it just put knots in my stomach."

Farmer has an even more frightening story.

"I had a friend who signed up for a poker site on his parents' bank card," he said. "He lost $10,000 in one month of his parents' money. Obviously his life is completely changed."

However, Clay Partridge, business freshman, and Gelona said they have found it easier to manage their hobby. Gelona, who plays about two to three hours per day, said he stops when he has lost a certain amount of money.

"Once I get to a certain amount, I'm done," he said. "I've never felt addicted because I've always been able to stop when I've wanted to."

Partridge has also found it simple to make online poker strictly a leisure activity.

"There are days when I can make $50 in an hour," he said. "But it's never anything huge."

Pugliano said he found the consequences of Internet gambling in college to be destructive. He was spending more than eight hours per day on poker Web sites.

"Poker definitely got in the way of my school work," he said. "Once you get started, it's just really addicting."

In order to cut down on his gambling, Pugliano now makes himself drive to a casino.

"Now I have to actually get in my car and drive there if I really want to do it," he said. "It freed up a lot of my time."

The Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey has been tracking the 2,000 known Internet gambling sites since 1995. In 2005, 8 percent of the calls to their gambling helpline were made regarding Internet gambling. That percentage was just 1 percent in 2000.

Farmer said because of the minor tricks the Web sites use, online gambling ultimately yields very little return.

"You'll never come out ahead, ever," Farmer said. "I've had friends who say they're paying their tuition on poker money, but every poker player is a liar so who knows."

More college students are also reaching a gambling crisis stage. In 2002, the Council on Compulsive Gambling's helpline received only 2 percent of its calls from adolescents. That number climbed to 5 percent by 2005.

Farmer does not deny his addiction to Internet gambling.

"I'm absolutely addicted," said Farmer. "There's a saying about poker that says 'poker is hours of boredom and moments of sheer terror.' You just get so addicted to those moments of terror."

StudentAffairs.com, a resource for college administrators employed in student affairs departments, cites several reasons for the increase in online gambling, such as constant access to the Internet and credit cards.

Ed Looney, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling, said the lack of prevention education in schools has led to adult gambling addiction.

"The addiction rate for adolescents is twice that of adults," said Looney. "There's no education on gambling in high schools -- there's lots of focus on drugs in alcohol, but very little on gambling addiction."

Farmer said gambling is addictive because of the potential jackpots.

"There's no other sport where you feel like you actually have a chance of really succeeding," said Farmer, who has a dream of participating in the World Series of Poker someday. "It's not like you're going to try out for the New York Knicks and expect to make it. But with poker, college kids are realizing that it's not some esoteric monster they can't overcome. Anyone can do it, and there's no other sport like that."
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