Surge in Student Sports Betting Prompts Policy Conversations 

Last month, Dr. Eona Harrison, director of Bowie State’s Center for Data Analytics (CDA) traveled to Annapolis with Dean Mohamed Djerdjouri of the College of Business to present her research on gambling activities among Maryland’s college students.  

The invitation came from the Maryland General Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee, which asked Harrison to share data she extracted from a recent state survey about college alcohol use.  

“The survey included questions on gambling due to the well‑established connection with behavioral health. I extracted striking patterns: about 23% of college students surveyed reported gambling in the past year, but among males, that figure jumps to 40%.” 

Because online apps like FanDuel and DraftKings are readily available, Harrison told lawmakers about a particular surge in legalized sports gambling among young adults.  

“The percentage of students reporting this behavior doubled in one year, from 6% to 12%. Other states are also reporting consistent, steady increases.” 

Harrison, who arrived at BSU three years ago from the Urban Institute, a research think tank in Washington, D.C., has a passion for digging deep to uncover the human stories that drive the numbers.  

“I’m a self-proclaimed data nerd. Formally, I’m trained as a demographer, which is a fancy way of saying that I study, interpret and evaluate anything as it pertains to population and understand wider impacts.” 

Her work incorporates an equity and structural lens to investigate pathways that lead to racial inequities in maternal health, infant and child outcomes and community well-being. Through the CDA and its DARTT Lab, a place for students to gain practical data and research experience, the team collaborates across campus with other faculty and students to incorporate data understanding into their curriculum.  

“I was blessed to have a recent partnership with Dr. Alex Anderson and his Sport Management courses.” 

Harrison’s Feb. 27 briefing drew immediate and engaged reactions from legislators. Committee members approached her afterward, surprised by the spike in gambling participation and appreciation of the crisp, understandable way the data was presented.  

“Several members told me that hearing the comparison between 2024 and 2025 figures changed their understanding of the issue’s urgency.” 

Her data and storytelling have already been used as a touchstone to begin shaping policy. Lawmakers asked her what measures of prevention, education and parental guidance might be needed on campuses, and she made clear that students, families and institutions need better tools to address gambling-related risks before they escalate. 

“I’ve responded to four different state bills related to gambling in recent months. One which I especially support would require sports‑betting operators to share their data with Maryland HBCUs like Bowie State.”