Odds in Their Pockets: Can a Smartphone Intervention Reduce Gambling Risk in College Students?

Session Title

Poster session

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Start Date

27-5-2026 12:00 AM

Abstract

Gambling has become more accessible with digital technology and shifting social norms, raising concerns about gambling-related harm among emerging adults. College students are particularly vulnerable, showing higher rates of problem gambling than the general population, influenced by peer environments and cognitive distortions such as illusion of control and predictive control. As online gambling platforms proliferate, digital interventions offer promising prevention and harm-reduction strategies. Internet-based programs have been shown to reduce gambling frequency, symptom severity, and financial losses. Digital interventions are especially appealing to students, who often avoid traditional services due to stigma, time constraints, or privacy concerns. Preventive digital psychoeducation remains underused in university settings. This study addresses the gap in evaluating a brief, smartphone-based psychoeducational intervention for undergraduates. Using a within-subject design, it examined whether a two week harm-prevention curriculum improves gambling literacy, attitudes, and risk perceptions, leads to behavior change at 20 days. Findings from this study have implications for campus health promotion and prevention efforts. If further research validates this study’s exploratory findings, brief smartphone-based psychoeducation could offer universities a scalable, low-barrier strategy to improve gambling literacy, and reduce gambling risk among emerging adults.

Author Bios

The author is a graduate of Gonzaga University, where they earned a degree in Human Physiology. For the past two years, they have worked with Gonzaga’s Office of Health Promotion as a Peer Health Educator, supporting student wellness through education, outreach, and prevention initiatives. Their academic and research experience spans multiple disciplines, including chemistry, environmental science, and human biology, reflecting a strong interest in the intersection of science, health, and behavi

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May 27th, 12:00 AM

Odds in Their Pockets: Can a Smartphone Intervention Reduce Gambling Risk in College Students?

Gambling has become more accessible with digital technology and shifting social norms, raising concerns about gambling-related harm among emerging adults. College students are particularly vulnerable, showing higher rates of problem gambling than the general population, influenced by peer environments and cognitive distortions such as illusion of control and predictive control. As online gambling platforms proliferate, digital interventions offer promising prevention and harm-reduction strategies. Internet-based programs have been shown to reduce gambling frequency, symptom severity, and financial losses. Digital interventions are especially appealing to students, who often avoid traditional services due to stigma, time constraints, or privacy concerns. Preventive digital psychoeducation remains underused in university settings. This study addresses the gap in evaluating a brief, smartphone-based psychoeducational intervention for undergraduates. Using a within-subject design, it examined whether a two week harm-prevention curriculum improves gambling literacy, attitudes, and risk perceptions, leads to behavior change at 20 days. Findings from this study have implications for campus health promotion and prevention efforts. If further research validates this study’s exploratory findings, brief smartphone-based psychoeducation could offer universities a scalable, low-barrier strategy to improve gambling literacy, and reduce gambling risk among emerging adults.