https://dantemiller.phd/tags/public-health/Public HealthHugoBlox Kit (https://hugoblox.com)en-usWed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://dantemiller.phd/media/icon_hu_da05098ef60dc2e7.pnghttps://dantemiller.phd/tags/public-health/https://dantemiller.phd/blog/unlv-gambling-study-2026/Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000https://dantemiller.phd/blog/unlv-gambling-study-2026/<p>I was interviewed by about a study I conducted with Dr. Andrea Dassopoulos examining gambling behavior among Nevada college students.</p> <div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden;"> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share; fullscreen" loading="eager" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xe7xCeKlZRY?autoplay=0&amp;controls=1&amp;end=0&amp;loop=0&amp;mute=0&amp;start=0" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border:0;" title="YouTube video"></iframe> </div> <p>Andy and I realized something obvious had never actually been studied: nobody had asked Nevada&rsquo;s college students whether they gamble. So we did. .</p> <p>What I find most interesting is <strong>how often students don&rsquo;t recognize when they&rsquo;re gambling at all</strong>. When we asked about in-game loot box purchases — paying real money for a randomized reward — close to 60% didn&rsquo;t consider that gambling. About 15% didn&rsquo;t count buying a lottery ticket, and many dismissed fantasy leagues the same way.</p> <p>That gap between behavior and perception is exactly what makes this a public health question and not just a personal one. As one expert we spoke with put it, the line between a video game and a slot machine has effectively disappeared, and the digital age has made that shift happen faster than anyone expected.</p> <div class="text-left"> <a id="button-11682e8c0c44a9196d2dbc95d54b7d42" href="#" class="inline-flex items-center gap-2 font-medium no-underline transition-all duration-300 ease-out transform-gpu focus:outline-none focus:ring-4 focus:ring-offset-2 focus:ring-offset-white dark:focus:ring-offset-zinc-900 disabled:opacity-50 disabled:cursor-not-allowed disabled:pointer-events-none bg-gradient-to-br from-primary-500 to-primary-600 hover:from-primary-600 hover:to-primary-700 active:from-primary-700 active:to-primary-800 text-white shadow-lg shadow-primary-500/25 hover:shadow-xl hover:shadow-primary-500/30 hover:-translate-y-0.5 hover:scale-[1.02] active:scale-[0.98] focus:ring-primary-500/50 px-4 py-2 text-base rounded-lg" role="button" aria-label="Read the full story at 8 News Now →" > <span>Read the full story at 8 News Now →</span> </a> </div>