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91���� hosted a two-day Healthy Campus Summit on Nov. 12-13 aimed at addressing the growing issue of problem gambling among college students. Led by B-Healthy: Healthy Campus Initiative, the event brought together students, faculty, staff, mental health and gambling industry professionals to raise awareness and provide strategies for early intervention and support.

With the rapid expansion of sports betting, online gaming and retail and cryptocurrency trading, problem gambling has emerged as a pressing concern on college campuses, though it’s often well-hidden by those affected.

Recognizing this trend, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Health and Wellness Officer Johann Fiore-Conte emphasized the University’s proactive stance.

“We chose to focus on problem gambling because it is a growing and often overlooked concern for college students,” she said. “As an institution committed to the well-being of our students — and as an adopter of the Okanagan Charter — we felt it was important to bring this issue into the open, especially with the rapid expansion of sports betting and online gaming.”

The summit, titled “Problem Gambling: Awareness and Action,” featured personal testimonies, expert presentations and panel discussions that explored the psychological and social dimensions of problem gambling. Attendees learned how to recognize early warning signs, foster open conversations and connect students with appropriate resources. The event also highlighted the importance of promoting healthy alternatives to gambling and building a campus culture that prioritizes wellness.

Fiore-Conte noted that the University’s approach is rooted in both compassion and action.

“We’re focused on raising awareness, improving prevention efforts and ensuring clear pathways to support,” she said. “Our goal is to make it easier for any student impacted by problem gambling to get the help they need.”

The summit concluded with a diverse panel of psychology students, professionals and campus advocates that highlighted the impact of problem gambling on 91���� students and fielded questions from the crowded summit audience on how best to support those affected. The question and answer session ended with a call to continue the conversation and deepen engagement across campus.

Guest speaker Daniel Trolaro, managing director of education and responsible play for IC360, an online gaming and sports betting integrity company, offered a powerful message to those in attendance about the importance of being prepared to support students in need.

“Equip yourself,” he urged, “so when and if that window of opportunity opens, and you’re in the power to help navigate someone through this journey that they’re on and start the process, you can say, ‘I don’t know the right words to say to you. I don’t know the background, but I know people who do.’”

On Nov. 12, Trolaro presented his High Stakes training, telling the personal story of his battle with problem gambling and gambling addiction while highlighting intervention and education strategies to help prevent problem gambling and support those affected.

The Nov. 13 programming began with a presentation by Katie Mibaum, team leader for the Finger Lakes Problem Gambling Resource Center, on the alarming growth of problem gambling and gambling-adjacent activities. Joshua Grubbs, an associate professor at the University of New Mexico, then presented his research, detailing the correlations of risk-taking behaviors to sports betting and other gambling activities. Finally, Mibaum and Trolaro were joined by Mark Rice, clinical director of the University Counseling Center; Bill Reardon, associate director of athletics, NCAA compliance and student services; and Chris Schillo, senior majoring in psychology, in a panel discussing the awareness of problem gambling and how staff and community members can support students affected by it and help to prevent it altogether.

“Our hope is that the summit serves as a springboard that increases awareness, deepens understanding and empowers our community to take action,” Fiore-Conte said. “We want faculty, staff and students to be able to recognize concerns earlier, engage in meaningful conversations and feel confident connecting someone to help.”