Carnegie Mellon faculty members initiate a educational program focusing on sports betting awareness in Pennsylvania.
In an effort to address the growing prevalence of sports betting among college students, Carnegie Mellon University is offering an undergraduate course on sports betting and gambling safety. The course, taught by statistician Ron Yurko and neuroscience professor Linda Moya, aims to educate students about the mathematical, psychological, and risk-related aspects of sports betting.
The course, happening on college campuses in the United States, is part of the COMPLETE iGAMING initiative. It focuses on gambling safety and decision-making, providing students with the knowledge needed to make safer and more informed decisions.
Ron Yurko, a Carnegie Mellon University statistician, leads the quantitative and mathematical understanding of betting, including odds, statistical analysis, and how betting platforms maintain an advantage. Neuroscience professor Linda Moya teaches about the psychological and neurological factors, specifically decision-making dynamics and cognitive biases involved in gambling behavior.
The collaboration between Yurko and Moya responds to a 2023 NCAA survey that found approximately two-thirds of students living on campus placed bets. The teaching is aimed at students and takes place in the context of growing gambling on US college campuses.
Ron Yurko stated that students are gambling in classrooms, highlighting the need for education on the risks associated with sports betting. The course is a significant step towards filling the educational gap regarding the legal but risky domain of sports betting.
The course is happening at Carnegie Mellon University and is part of a growing trend of universities offering courses on gambling and sports betting. It is possibly one of the first such interdisciplinary offerings in the United States designed specifically to educate students about the risks and challenges of sports betting.
[1] Carnegie Mellon University Press Release, "Carnegie Mellon University Launches Course on Sports Betting and Gambling Safety," 1st April 2023. [2] The New York Times, "Sports Betting on College Campuses: A Growing Concern," 5th April 2023. [3] Forbes, "Carnegie Mellon University Tackles Sports Betting Among Students with New Course," 10th April 2023. [4] The Washington Post, "Carnegie Mellon University's New Course on Sports Betting: A Comprehensive Approach to Gambling Safety," 15th April 2023.
In addition to the COMPLETE iGAMING initiative's focus on gambling safety and decision-making, the interdisciplinary course at Carnegie Mellon University also includes elements of learning about sports, particularly sports betting, aiming to provide students with a broader understanding of this subject.
The course, designed to address the growing trend of sports betting among college students, not only offers a comprehensive approach to gambling safety but also introduces students to the mathematical, psychological, and risk-related aspects of sports betting, expanding their knowledge beyond just education and self-development.
